Amid Challenges, Afghan Media Emerges as Success Story

Amid Challenges, Afghan Media Emerges as Success Story

Internews Network Brings 'Journalism of Hope' to Afghan People

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Many of the challenges that remain in Afghanistan were highlighted last week during Afghan President Hamid Karzai's four-day visit to the United States. Yet as Karzai (http://www.president.gov.af/) headed back to Kabul, observers could point to one of the country's greatest success stories since the fall of the Taliban -- the local Afghan media.

Internews Network (http://www.internews.org/), a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, has helped bring free media to Afghanistan, establishing a network of locally owned and operated radio stations that deliver news to a population previously starved of information. Beginning the project shortly after 9/11, this network has become an essential and trusted conduit of information in a nation where radio is still the dominant media.

"I call it the journalism of hope," said Masood Farivar, manager of "Salam Watandar," Internews' radio program unit in Afghanistan. This National Public Radio-styled model broadcasts for 14 hours every day, covering national news, business, women's issues, sports, culture and other fields. It reaches eight million people daily -- roughly one-third of the country.

Among the accomplishments of "Salam Watandar" (which translates to "Hello Countrymen") is the expansion of Pashto language programming into the southern part of Afghanistan, as well as targeted efforts to help combat rampant corruption. Outreach has included a two-week campaign on more than 40 affiliate radio stations that educated citizens on government efforts in combating corruption through improved laws and law enforcement, including live roundtables, investigative reports and news pieces. Internews (http://www.internews.org/) also facilitated a one-week public service announcement campaign on four television stations on behalf of the High Office for Anti-corruption and Oversight (http://anti-corruption.gov.af/index.php?page=en_Oversight).

Internews has also put a particular emphasis on programming for women, children and the disabled. For example, Radio Kodak is a show about a fictional radio station run by children with themes of peace building and social justice. In the Pashto version of the program, children fly around the world on a magic carpet and learn history and geography.

The program "Qahir-L Qahraman" ("Qahir the Champion"), meanwhile, is an educational and advocacy program about Afghanistan's more than 1.5 million citizens living with disabilities, most of them victims of war. The educational and advocacy program is produced by a team of three disabled radio journalists.

In programming targeting women, "Salam Watandar" ran special live coverage of events surrounding International Women's Day (http://www.internationalwomensday.com/) on March 8, and recently hired three female journalists to cover under-reported news.

Internews' work in Afghanistan is also at the cutting edge of technology: Radio over Internet Protocol (ROIP), which uses spare bandwidth, is being implemented to create digital links between network stations, allowing for delivery of normal programming and separate specialized programming to individual partners in live or pre-recorded formats.

"Internews' mission is to empower local media across the globe so its listeners, readers and viewers have access to the information they want and need," said Internews Chief Operating Officer Jeanne Bourgault (http://www.internews.org/dirs/bourgault.shtm). "The value of information is incalculable. For decades, Afghans received very little objective news. Everything was controlled by whoever was in charge. That is why Afghans have reacted so strongly and positively to the free press."

Internews (http://www.internews.org/) is an international media development organization that empowers local media worldwide to provide people with the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard. Established in 1982, Internews has worked in over 70 countries and trained over 70,000 media professionals.

CONTACT: John Boit, +1-202-822-2093, jboit@melwoodglobal.com

Source: Internews Network

CONTACT: John Boit, +1-202-822-2093, jboit@melwoodglobal.com

Web Site: http://www.internews.org/

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