July 2008

Country Director Vanessa Johanson Says "Farewell"
…for Now

Dear Friend,

Vanessa Johanson (second from left) at Qarabagh station

It is remarkable what can get done in Afghanistan, despite multiple setbacks. So many large and small accomplishments - by so many people - come to mind. I flew to Herat at the end of that city’s worst winter in decades, and saw the planned new site for our partner station, Radio Sada I Jawan (Voice of Youth). I thought despairingly, "They aren’t moving for another five years, if ever, it’s a concrete hole in a basement, with no electricity." Shortly afterwards, though, our technicians were completing the finishing touches on the station’s move and they were broadcasting proudly from the new Herat University campus.

As I leave Afghanistan after nine months with Internews, I recall many happy surprises here. I watched journalists in their early twenties absorb exacting feedback from foreign women mentors in order to become strong investigative reporters, writing well-researched and damning pieces on corruption. After years of planning, our tech team was able to establish two small independent stations in volatile locations in Uruzgan, which now regularly bring unbiased national news to those communities. Just last week, our team pulled off a national meeting of radio station managers, addressing the diverse needs and interests of 36 lively radio partners from across the country.

At the same time, there has been devastating sadness. We have mourned the loss of a journalist and other colleagues to violence. We have regretted the brief, traumatic and unjustified detention of one of our staff at the Jalalabad airbase.

Still, many of the tasks of a Country Director are "'home affairs." In recent months we have succeeded in bringing on board great new staff, including a Program Manager, a Deputy Technical Advisor, and a Senior Program Officer. We have tried to understand the reach and impact of our work through monitoring and informal feedback.

I leave convinced that Internews and its partners play a unique role in reaching communities underserved by media and in helping to develop informed participation and decision making by Afghans across the country.

Charmaine Anderson will serve as Acting Country Director under the direction of Internews Vice-President for Asia Kathleen Reen.

Warm regards,

Courageous Afghan Woman Journalist Honored

Farida Nekzad

Farida Nekzad has been honored by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) with a 2008 Courage in Journalism Award for continuing to work for free media in Afghanistan while her life is under threat.

Nekzad, who is Managing Editor and Deputy Director of Pajhwok Afghan News and VP for South Asian Media Commission, was selected out of five Afghan journalists nominated by the International Federation of Journalists for the 2008 Award.

She was honored in recognition of her professional work and leadership at Pajhwok, an Internews sub-grantee. IWMF praised Farida’s dedication.

"After she wrote a story in 2003 about a warlord, Nekzad narrowly escaped a kidnapping attempt. She now frequently switches the car she drives, changes her schedule daily and sleeps in a different room in her home each night to prevent ambush by potential attackers. Despite working under tremendous pressure at a time when women journalists in particular are being threatened for their reporting in Afghanistan, Nekzad is committed to staying in her country to work toward a free press and greater equality for women journalists."

Nekzad says female journalists are often challenged by their family and tribe to give up their careers, which they love. She says she doesn’t see any government support for the safety and security of female journalists. She feels that the award means recognition and support from the international community for Afghan women journalists and encourages them to work hard and gain solidarity for their professional issues.
  
Pajhwok Director Danish Karokhel is very pleased about the award to Farida. He says it will encourage her colleagues to stand shoulder to shoulder to bring balance to their reporting and have women’s voices in the news.

Farida will be honored at ceremonies in October in Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC. She will also travel on an educational tour.

Pajhwok Afghan News (PAN) is an independent news agency in Afghanistan supported by Internews and the Open Society Institute.

German Lessons: Two Afghan Journalists Broaden Horizons at Deutsche Welle

Shakiba Mohed (left) and Farhad Mohammadi at Deutsche Welle Radio

Two young Afghan journalists gained new perspectives on radio broadcasting during their two-month internships at Deutsche Welle Radio in Germany this summer.

Commenting on what he learned in Germany, Farhad Mohammadi said, "We have learned the reporting standards which we are trying to bring to our country but it is very different in Afghanistan. The armed groups attack local radio when it touches on local and sensitive issues. I am considering what I learned during the internship but with care to protect myself and my station."  

Shakiba Mohed seemed more optimistic, saying, "Through attending this kind of workshop, we have a stronger position from which to raise public issues and influence policy makers and to bring women and youth issues to the attention of the government of Afghanistan."

Shakiba Mohed works at Radio Rabia-e-Balkhi in Mazar-e Sharif province, Northern Afghanistan and Farhad Mohammadi works at Milli Paygham Radio in Logar Province.

The pair produced several radio reports related to issues in Afghan society, such as the role of agricultural work in Logar, youth unemployment and self-censorship within local media.

The internship was coordinated by Nai Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan, one of Internews' local partners, and was funded by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Mujeeb Khalwatgar, Nai Executive Director, initiated the internship idea during a visit to German media organizations last summer.

"The internship provided me with an opportunity to gain self confidence and accountability while conducting the important task of a journalist," said Shakiba Mohed after returning from Germany.

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