August 17, 2009

As Election Nears, Afghan Journalists Are "Eyes and Ears of the People"

Journalists prepare to cover Afghanistan's presidential and provincial elections

"Media reports are very sensitive during an election period. We are the eyes and ears of the people. Our wrong reports can mislead society. We are happy to be part of this workshop and be familiar with election regulations. Now I am confident and have enough knowledge about the election."

− Hassan Khaleqi, participant in an Internews workshop in Bamyan on covering elections

On August 20, Afghanistan's citizens will head to the polls to vote for a president and parliament in only the second democratically held elections since coming out from under the Taliban. In the meantime, more than 170 print, radio and television journalists and editors from eight regions across the country are participating in trainings on election procedures to make sure that Afghans can make decisions based on fair and accurate information.

Three reports from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) detail how Internews is preparing media professionals to report on the elections:

• Pens Get Read for the Polls, June 9, 2009
• Journalism Training in Bamyan for the Elections, July 30, 2009
• Civil Society Learns to Deal with the Media, August 4, 2009

Internews is a nonprofit international media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard. Formed in 1982, Internews has worked in over 70 countries, and currently has offices in 35 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. See more information on our programs in health journalism, environmental reporting, humanitarian media, women and much more.

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