By: Rukhshana Media
Journalists and media professionals in Afghanistan are calling on the Taliban to support the industry as jobs dry up and more media networks are shut down.
Speaking to Rukhshana Media on Saturday, journalists and other media workers say rising unemployment across the country is especially acute in the industry.
Media organizations are calling on the Taliban to reconsider its recent announcement that it will cancel 10 media licenses, accusing the outlets of anti-Taliban propaganda.
Hojatullah Mujaddadi, head of Afghan Independent Journalists Association, says the license cancellations will escalate the rapid deterioration of Afghanistan’s media and increase unemployment.
He says journalists understand the importance of neutrality in reporting, and the Taliban also need to be patient with that process and in dealing with media.
TV reporter Ruhollah Noori says that many media workers have been forced out of their jobs either as their jobs disappear or they are paid substantially less. Networks are under pressure to cut content and are making less revenue. This is pushing more media workers into economic problems.
Journalist Mustafa Shahryar says not only have journalists had to leave their jobs, but for those who remain, the work is more challenging than ever as the current political climate limits access to information.
News agency reporter Rahmatullah Karimi believes that the problems and challenges faced by journalists and the media should be resolved by the Media Violations Commission.
He says that according to the Public Media law, cancelling media licenses and dealing with the problems networks face is meant to be one of the commission’s mandates.
Abdul Haq Hammad, the head of publications in the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, recently announced that the ministry will cancel the licenses of 10 media outlets due to media violations and propaganda.
