 The future of Afghan media is discussed in this two days conference which is financially supported by the German Federal ministry of foreign affairs. Mediothek Media conference started on Saturday16th January 2010. The future of Afghan media is discussed in this two days conference which is financially supported by the German Federal ministry of foreign affairs. It is held in the Afghan capital Kabul.
More than 100 journalists from 17 northeastern, northern, southeastern provinces of Afghanistan and some guest from Kabul and Peshawar participated in the conference to exchange views and experiences on the topic and also to get to know each other.
The conference started at 10:00 am after reading some versus of the Holy Quran. After that the Afghan National anthem was played. Sardar Aziz Ahmad, the advisor of the Afghan president read His Excellency Hamid Karzai message to the conference.
Hamidullah Zazai, Mediothek Afghanistan coordinator welcomed the participants of the conference and described the aims of the conference. He spoke about the activities that Mediothek Afghanistan is doing in the society.
The Afghan minister of information and culture, Said Makhdum Rahin spoke. This was his first speech after his first days in the ministry. He counted the conference as an important step towards the development of the media in Afghanistan and thanked the organizers of the conference. “I promise to do all my best to protect the journalists.” He said.
The first half of the morning phase of the conference was for the speeches by the experts of the field. The speakers were: the afghan author, researchers and expert Mr. Zarin Anzoor, Sanjar Suhail, journalists and concessionaire of 8 am daily and Rahimullah Samander head of Center for International Journalism in Afghanistan. All the speakers pointed out the common troubles of the Afghan journalists and their suggestions and solutions.
The speeches were about:
- The role of media in preserving national values and unity,
- What do people want from us?
- Ups and downs of the Afghan media in the recent 8 years. The second half of the morning and whole afternoon phase was organized for two panel discussions on “security and self censorship” and “the legal situation of the Afghan media”. The panels leaded by Wahid Hashimi, executive director of Nai, supporting the free media in Afghanistan, Wahid Darwish, senrior trainer in Nai, Nsurllah Stanekzai, professor of political science in Kabul university and Bari salam, journalist and head of “Awanama” media production company. After the panel discussions, the audience got the chance to ask their questions from the panelists. The answers by the panelists were effective for the journalists and their profession as journalists.
The first day of the conference ended at 5:30 pm. The second day of Conference started at 9:00 am with reciting some verses of Holy Quran.
The first day of the conference was evaluated briefly.
The first discussion day, was “Afghan Media and Corruption”, Mr. Danish Karokhil Director and chief editor of Pazhwok News Agecny and Mr. Loranz were the panelist of the topic. This discussion focused on the role of the media to revealing the Corruptions, in the presence situation and its priority tasks of the Afghan medias to do it.
This was the longer part of the conference. Participants continuously were asking questions concerning Media’s role and how to struggle against the corruptions.
Mr. Karokhil and Loranz answered to the participant’s questions and presented their solutions on the current media problem.
The second panel was on” Women in Afghan media”. Mrs. Najeeba Ayoubi head of Kilid group was the panelist. She described the backgrounds and history of Afghan women in the Media of Afghanistan. And also she precisely evaluated the problems of the Afghan women in the area of civil activities.
Mrs. Ayoubi explained the main women challenges in Media. She also suggested her way to improving a better working environment for female journalists.
Mrs. Najeeba Ayoubi responded to the questions of the participants. She also said: “it is difficult for that Afghan women to work as journalists due to the current social and traditional reasons.”
During the conference, a group of 17 journalists from different provinces including Kabul had to write a letter including the messages and demands of the conference participants. This letter addressed the Afghan government, media, civil institutions and international society.
The fifth panel discussion was on the “Afghanistan “Afghan Media and the Lack of Access to Information”.
Mohammad Abdullah, head of the well known Tolo-TV debate “Goftoman” was the panelist. He spoke about the task of the media for connecting the government and the people.
Mr. Abdullah evaluated the problems of the Afghan media. He said that during the past eight years many media outlets start to perform with in the country. But unfortunately, the exchange of balanced and professional information does not exist. Thus the reporters, in every question presented examples of their work and difficulties concerning receiving information from the government news sources.
Mr. Mukaram Khan, member of Tribal Union of Journalism and a guest participant from Pakistan thanked for being invited to the conference. He said: “This conference is very important because people with different background and experience have come together,” he appreciated the branch activities of Mediothek Afghanistan in Peshawar. “This is a big chance for us to get to know journalists from Afghanistan and have a network of journalists from both sides of border.” He expressed.
At 4:00 pm, the Dari and Pashto versions of the conference message and demands, presented by Mr. Rahimy, a reporter from Balkh province and Mr. Bahir, reporter and head of Khost province journalists Union.
At the end of conference, Hamid Zazi coordinator of Mediothek Afghanistan evaluated the two days of the conference work. Mr. Zazi highly appreciated the active participation and useful discussion with in the two days. He thanks the national and international media for their successful participation in the conference. Mr. Zazi mentioned that Mediothek Afghanistan will try to conduct such program with all its possibilities with the help of international community in Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan.
The conference work officially ended at 5:00 pm. Following it, there was a music part. Afghan singers entertained the participants.
Most of the reporters evaluated the conference work positive. Matiullah, head of Khawar TV in Kunduz said:”I admire this program since it was all about the future of Afghan media.”
Mr. Safee, a reporter from Laghman said:”The conference was very useful because the invited expertise spoke on the topic. And we learned a lot. In fact, we are well equipped now.”
Mrs. Tanya, a journalist from Baghlan province and Mr. Mangal from Khost province said that the conference was very good and it helped them to build a network between Afghan journalists all around the country. The conference news is covered by a big number of national and international media. You can find some by going to the following links: Azadiradio.org 8am.af • President Karzai Message • Message of the conference • First day pictures • Second day pictures |
