April 2009

Internews Afghanistan: Risk Management Toolkit, Code of Ethics and a New Radio Station

Welcome

I feel privileged as Internews Afghanistan’s new Country Director to share the many activities of my colleagues in Afghan media over recent months. In this e-newsletter, we throw bouquets to two special journalists as they accept Press Freedom Awards; look at the risk management toolkit for radio stations and support media professionals as they develop a code of ethics for Afghan journalists. It was also a very special moment when Radio Bamyan moved into its brand new purpose-built studios.

Charmaine Anderson
Country Director
Internews Afghanistan

In this issue:

• Afghan Journalists Accept Press Freedom Award from Committee to Protect Journalists
• Internews Launches Risk Management Toolkit for Radio Stations
• Over 100 Reporters Benefit from Internews’ Voter Registration Training
• Code of Ethics Developed for Afghan Journalists
• Cutting the Ribbon at Radio Bamyan

Afghan Journalists Accept Press Freedom Award from Committee to Protect Journalists

Danish Karokhel and Farida Nekzad, director and former deputy director of Pajhwok Afghan News, recently visited the United States to receive a joint International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists.  They  spoke passionately about the pressures they face reporting in such a tumultuous environment.

Danish Karokhel considered the award an achievement of the entire Pajhwok Afghan News staff, saying: "I hail the whole Pajhwok team, which provided accurate, neutral, and timely information to its readers while keeping the national interest in mind.”

Internews Launches Risk Management Toolkit for Radio Stations

Gunmen fire rocket-propelled grenades at a radio station. Another station has valuable broadcasting equipment destroyed in an arson attack. A journalist receives phone threats one day and is beaten and arrested while on assignment the next. A bitter dispute between station management and the workers turns into a lawsuit.  These dramatic scenarios have all taken place in recent years at radio stations and media outlets across Afghanistan.

The growth of the media is one of the country's success stories.  Since  the removal of the Taliban, media outlets have proliferated and journalists are emerging to report on issues that affect and interest Afghans.  But as the media grows it is facing a growing number of challenges. Despite the challenges faced by security issues, many media outlets are striving to become professional workplaces and to establish ethical and safe work practices. 

In recognition of this need, Internews is releasing a toolkit which is intended to help partner radio stations to manage risk and provide a framework for them to improve safety and security standards.

The risk management toolkit is compiled from material from Internews' own resources, as well as contributions from Internews Afghanistan staff, journalists, development workers and security experts.  It is aimed at giving guidance to stations around the country to make them comfortable and secure places to work.

The kit also serves as an introduction to legislation governing Afghanistan's media and includes legal concepts such as defamation - an understanding of which is crucial to safeguarding journalists' rights.

Over 100 Reporters Benefit from Internews’ Voter Registration Training

Internews and Nai trained over 100 journalists from 33 provinces on the nationwide voter registration process to encourage frequent and high quality coverage of the upcoming electoral events.

The courses in Kabul included reporting on voter registration (including a reporting exercise in three media – TV, radio, print) and an introduction to the electoral law and the journalist’s Code of Conduct.  The students also explored the topic of women and elections and the role media has in a positive environment for women’s participation.

In addition to in-class course work, the participants visited the IEC to observe a voter registration simulation, hear a briefing on the electoral process and to ask questions of the senior staff in the IEC’s Public Outreach Department. Funding for the training was provided by IFES’ Consortium for Electoral and Political Process Support (CEPPS).

Code of Ethics Developed for Afghan Journalists

Media professionals in Afghanistan joined forces to create a journalist’s Code of Ethics, which is now being introduced to reporters. The draft Code was created by a working group of academics and journalists.

One of the people behind the project, Nai Executive Director Abdul Wahed Hashimi, says, “We made strong efforts to meet the spirit of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that promotes freedom of expression.”

The aim of the Code of Ethics project is to provide ethical guidelines and international media standards to guide Afghan journalists.

Both Nai and Pajhwok Afghan News have begun to introduce the Code to journalists across the country.  A total of 75 Afghan journalists have endorsed the draft to date.

The working group studied nine international examples of codes of ethics from the region. The final draft consists of articles that call on journalists to avoid all types of discrimination, ensure reporting accuracy, and respect people’s right to information, human dignity and cultural diversity. The draft also highlighted the journalist’s responsibility in peace processes.

Director of Pajhwok Afghan News, Danish Karokhel, said, “During the workshop on Media’s Role in Promoting Peace and Stability I met with journalists, explained the Code of Ethics and its importance for independent media and peace promotion. The journalists have endorsed the draft through voting and approved all of the Code of Ethics articles.”

Cutting the Ribbon at Radio Bamyan

Jose Garzon, Director of USAID’s Democracy and Governance program, left, and General Mohammad Nader Fahimi, Deputy Governor of Bamyan, cut a ceremonial ribbon at the opening of Radio Bamyan’s new broadcast facility.

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