MEDIA

Introduction:

• Broadcasting
• Print Media
• Electronic Media
• Publication
• Internet

BROADCASTING:

With the principles of free speech enshrined in the new Afghan constitution, the task of rebuilding the broadcasting sector is central to the new government's stated aim of an independent and pluralistic media.

Overview:

Afghanistan’s first radio station was established in 1925 during the reign of King Amanullah Khan. Known initially as Radio Kabul, it later went national and was renamed Radio Afghanistan. Closed from 1929 to 1937, it was re-established by the Marconi Company, with outdoor loudspeakers installed in many towns in order to spread the message of the Koran, foster unity and promote education. By the mid 1960s the radio was providing entertainment programming, including music, but all programming was strictly controlled. Broadcasting was carried out through the medium of the national languages of Pashto and Dari, except during the Soviet times when minority languages were also used. The national television station Television Afghanistan began broadcasting in 1977.
Under Taliban rule Afghanistan's media was seriously restricted. Radio Afghanistan was renamed Radio Voice of Shari'ah (Islamic law) to reflect the Islamic fundamentalist values of the Taliban, and Television Afghanistan was closed down as a source of moral corruption. Radio Afghanistan returned to the airwaves on 13 November 2001 after the Taliban deserted the capital. A week later Television Afghanistan resumed broadcasting with a news bulletin read by a woman.

Radio Stations:

Radio Afghanistan currently broadcasts 18 hours per day, seven hours of which is on MW and SW and reaches 50 per cent of the country. The rest is broadcast on FM in Kabul. Outside Kabul there are some 18 provincial radio stations, but since there is no satellite link between them and the capital, these rely largely on tapes sent by Radio Afghanistan.
In a country with a 70-80% illiteracy rate, educational programming is a crucially important aspect of Radio Afghanistan's work, and this is currently being developed with a particular focus on the empowerment of women. In the meantime agencies such as UNESCO and the BBC World Service Trust are working with Radio Afghanistan to upgrade its equipment and retrain its staff.
Two other FM radio stations are operational in Kabul, however, both are run by organizations based outside of the country.

• Radio Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif:

Radio Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif was the first to transmit news during the Taliban regime, even though most of the cable had been stolen to sell to Pakistan. It is on air for four to six hours every day, reporting on politics, law, education and culture and also broadcasting entertainment serials.

• Radio Rabi’a Balkhi:

Radio Rabi’a Balkhi is a privately owned community radio station that transmits from two to three hours a day. It is supported by IMPACS, a Canadian civil society NGO, with equipment from the ‘radio in a suitcase’ project.

• Arman FM 98.1:

In late 2002 the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $228,922 and the logistics necessary to Moby Capital Brothers to jump start Kabul's first private, independent FM radio station, Arman FM. Moby Capital matched USAID's funds and was able to begin broadcasting on 16 April 2003. Arman FM 98.1 offers entertainment programmes in Dari and Pashtu. Both male and female DJs give news reports and play Afghan, Indian and Pakistani music. Some initial negative responses to women on the airwaves and the use of colloquial language has been overcome and the station now has a large following.

• Kabul Radio:

Radio Kabul transmits to Kabul Province (two stations), and also has its own programme recording studio.

• Radio Afghanistan:

The national radio, which broadcasts 18 hours per day, seven hours of which is on MW and SW and reaches 50 per cent of the country. The rest is broadcast on FM in Kabul.

PRINT MEDIA:

Overview:

Father of Journalism’ Mahmud Tarzi published the newspaper Seraj ul-Akhbar (‘Lamp of the News’) from 1911 to 1918. Its readers were the literate elite in Kabul and it featured both national and international news. The paper promoted the modernization of Afghan society and advocated reform. The first national newspapers to print domestic and foreign news were Anis (1927) and Islah (1929). Thereafter numerous specialized papers and journals were published by government ministries and provincial newspapers also flourished, forming an important propaganda vehicle for the reform programme of King Amanullah Khan (1919-1929).
Press freedom came under attack during the 1960s, when numerous privately-funded newspapers were closed after just one issue, on the pretext of various offences. Soviet-sponsored newspapers subsequently gained a following and were able to continue printing as they had strong support from pro-communist factions. Editorial freedom was restored during the 10-month rule of Prime Minister Shafiq in late 1972, but from the time of Prime Minister Daoud in 1973 control of the news was once more placed firmly in the hands of the government.
The relaxation of media censorship under the Interim Government has allowed newspapers and magazines to proliferate. At the time of writing it is estimated that over 170 newspapers and magazines are printed in Afghanistan (Hamid Karzai interview, May 2003). Today the main government newspapers are Anis, Hewad and Arman, each with an estimated circulation of between 5,000 and 8000, and the independent newspaper Erada, produced by the Afghan Media Resource Centre.

Dari Language Newspaper printed:

• Amanat:

Amanat is an independent newspaper which prints news from its national correspondents alongside editorials about international news.

• Anis Daily:

Launched in 1927, this daily government newspaper is written 80 per cent in Dari and 20 per cent in Pashto and has about 5,000 readers. The Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs appoints the editor and hires all the staff.

• Arman Weekly:

This government newspaper is written 50% in Pashtu and 50% in Dari, with ads in English. It is a new publication launched since the beginning of the Interim Government. The Director remarks that previously they were under strict governmental control but now they are guided by the people’s policies. A recent article written to urge the government to reissue identity cards to returnees and those who had lost theirs during the wars was acted on in 15 days.

• Erada (Intention) Daily:

Erada is a daily, independent publication whose stated role is to serve the country and its citizens.

• Seerat Weekly:

Seerat Weekly features news highlights of the week.

• Hewad newspaper:

Hewad newspaper: Hewad is the state-run mainly Pashto speaking daily newspaper. Launched in 1949, this daily government newspaper is written 80% in Pashto and 20% in Dari and currently has about 5,000 readers. The editor is appointed by the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and all staff are hired by the Ministry.

Online Dari language newspaper:

• Afghanistan News:

Website: http://afghanistannews.net
News and current affairs site.

• Sabawoon Online:

Website: http://www.sabawoon.com/
the online version of Sabawoon magazine.

English language printed newspapers:

• Kabul Times:

Kabul Times is the only daily newspaper of Afghanistan in the English language, with 41 years of publication behind it, which seeks to reflect the realities of Afghanistan at both national and international level. This four-page government newspaper covers all areas of Afghan life, focusing on the government and its efforts to rebuild the country. It carries one column of international news.

• Kabul Weekly:

Kabul Weekly is an independent publication not based on any governmental, ethnic or political group, which is supported by AÏNA and Afghan Media and Culture Centre. The circulation in early 2002 was 8,000 readers.

• AÏNA News clipping:

AÏNA News clipping, a weekly news review, aims to make a selection of quality international and domestic articles available to Afghan media, NGOs and the government. The publication’s ambition is to bring the broadest outlook on international and regional developments to key individuals involved in the country’s reconstruction, at a moment when access to information is still a luxury. Articles are published in English, Dari and Pashtu and drawn from international, regional and local sources (including press from the provinces of Afghanistan). Sources are newspapers, newswire and the Internet. Distributed in Kabul and the main cities of Afghanistan, AÏNA News clipping aims to reflect international and Afghan events and opinions in all their diversity, giving a special place to debate and analysis. It is hoped that this publication will assist Afghan media to provide their audience with the widest possible panel of opinion and information, and help all citizens to make informed choices.

Online English Language Newspaper:

• Afghan Daily:

Website: http://afghandaily.com/
this link supplies the latest news on Afghanistan

• Afghanistan News Centre:

Website: http://www.afghanistannewscenter.com/
Afghanistan News Center is a privately-owned, independent website committed to providing updated news and information about Afghanistan. It began originally in 1998 under the URL www.afghanradio.com (Azadi Afghan Radio) serving those interested in Afghanistan’s current affairs. In 2002 it was changed to E-mail service and in 2006 the whole system was revamped to provide more consolidated information services including current affairs and archival records of over 10 years of news about Afghanistan. In its present shape, the ANC boasts of more than 50,000 articles. Its daily report is currently delivered to more than 10,000 subscribers.

Electronic Media:

A part from the state Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) a number of TV and FM radio stations have sprung up in Afghanistan like the print media. There are relatively free and air various programs of entertainment and information. The entertainment programs have a few indigenously produced programs and the bulk have Indian and Iranian produced. Indian programs are dubbed into the local languages. Indian feature films are regularly shown. Some section of the population do not approve of the Indian programs as they feel that these are not suitable for viewing in Afghanistan because of vulgar content. Television has once again become the country's main source of entertainment, though even in Kabul only 25 per cent of families have a television and blackouts are still frequent. Television Afghanistan broadcasts a nightly (four-hour) mix of news, music, sport and movies in both Dari and Pashto on channel E11 (217.25 MHz vision/222.75 MHz sound). Television in the provinces in Afghanistan was greatly boosted in March 2004 following the completion of a powerful new transmitter in Kabul which broadcasts across the country. Some of the important TV channels are:

• Ariana TV:

Network:

Frequencies:

Satellite Parameters
D/L Frequency: 11867 MHz
D/L Polarity: Vertical
Symbol Rate: 22.000 Msym
FEC: 2/3

• Tolo TV:

‘Tolo’ means sunrise or dawn in Dari and Pashto, and symbolizes the beginning of a new era for Afghans. Tolo TV was launched in October 2004, becoming one of the first commercial television stations to operate in Afghanistan and laying the foundations for an accessible media outlet offering local and international news, sports, a current affair, movies, comedy, serials, documentaries, music, children’s programming, lifestyle and entertainment shows. Tolo TV was first launched in Kabul but as at November 2007, has broadcasts in 14 cities in Afghanistan on free-to-air and throughout the region by satellite. Tolo currently provides free-to-air services to viewers in 14 cities in Afghanistan, and we intend to continually expand our reach within Afghanistan. Tolo provide satellite TV services to the entire region on Eutelsat SESAT2 (or Express AM22).
Control and Management: Tolo TV is part of and controlled by the Moby Group of entities. Visit the Moby Group website and learn more about our parent entity. Moby Group is a 100% Afghan owned and operated organization.

• Lemar TV:

Lemar is Afghanistan’s newest TV station, launching this evening it is the first to dedicate its programming to news and current affairs. Afghan owned and operated, Lemar is the third broadcast entity in the media group which includes the leading ARMAN FM and TOLO TV stations. Lemar is taken from the Pashto word for Sun and will broadcast news services in Pashto, Dari, Urdu and English, the only station to offer such inclusive programming in the ethnically diverse region. Pashto presenter and news producer Mujahid Kakar said “We know people don’t want prejudiced or one-sided information, the challenge for us as journalists is to maintain the standards of fair, unbiased reporting that our audiences are calling for. Shining a light, the sun, on our country, the region and the world for the people of Afghanistan is one of the most important things I could be doing professionally at this point in time in our redevelopment.”

• Shamshad TV:

Shamshad TV is a satellite television station in Afghanistan, which was launched in early 2006. The channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, providing educational, news, shows, dramas, and entertaining programs to both local areas of Afghanistan as well as other countries via satellite. Shamshad TV programs are mainly in Pashto language. Shamshad TV's name is taken from a mountain named Shamshad in Afghanistan. The Shamshad Mountain is one of the highest mountains in Afghanistan. Shamshad is locally available in Kabul and Jalalabad provinces (Date: January 15, 2007) and is going soon to Paktia and Kandahar provinces. In future it will cover all over Afghanistan as well. It is only available on Asia sat2 for International viewers and will cover Europe, America, etc soon. It transmits hourly News, Current Affairs programs, entertainment programs, politics programs, sports programs and Criminal incidents programs. It has many live shows such as Khabari ao Sandari, Dini Larkhowani, Ronn Sahaar, etc. It’s main on screen workers are Sarwar Khairay, Baheer Lalpuriwal, Shazalmay Zalmay, etc. Fazul Karim Fazul is the President of Shamshad TV, which is located in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul.

• Ayna TV:

(Ayna in Persian means mirror) is a commercial television station, broadcasting from Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan since late 2004. The station is owned by General Abdul Rashid Dostum and apart from broadcasting entertainment and news programs serves as a propaganda tool by Dostum and his Party, Jumbish-e-Melli Islami Afghanistan. Ayna was set up in order to satisfy the entertainment needs of people in northern Afghanistan where Uzbek and Turkmen are widely spoken alongside Afghanistan's two other official languages - Dari and Pashto. To date, it is the only television station in Afghanistan that has programs in four languages, Dari, Pashto, Uzbek and Turkmen. It can be viewed from all the Northern provinces and the Greater Kabul region. The signal of Ayna can be received throughout the Northern Province of Jowzjan as well as in the neighbouring provinces of Balkh, Faryab and Sar-e Pol. The main transmitter is in Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan. The station currently broadcasts six hours a day and employs 32 journalists, 25 technical staff and 12 administrators. Sayed Fahim Zaffar, the person responsible for Ayna Television, said launching the channel cost about 1 million US dollars. The station's location is in a house belonging to General Dostum. The station plans in the future to construct a proper new building to house the television station under international broadcasting standards.

• Television Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif:

Television Afghanistan Mazar e Sharif transmits from 5pm to 8pm every day, covering national and regional events and screening entertainment and documentaries.

• RTA (Radio Television Afghanistan):

Publishing:

The first book printed in Afghanistan is believed to have been an anti-Wahhabi tract published in 1871. Between 1871 and 1900 some 43 books were published. However, in subsequent decades the number of printing houses remained small, with just 1,300 titles printed between 1900 and 1978 (including 400 between 1951 and 1965), mainly by the government printing houses.
Very few books were published in Afghanistan after 1989 due to the escalating war between rival Mujahideen factions and the subsequent ascendancy of the Taliban. Throughout this period thousands of books from Kabul Central Library and Kabul University Library were burned for being ‘un-Islamic’ (i.e. books in foreign languages and any books with pictures, particularly those with the former king’s picture as a frontispiece). Much of what was left at Kabul Central Library was finished off when a rocket struck the building, killing a library worker and starting a fire. However, the Taliban did commission the printing of many new Islamic books in Quetta and Peshawar (Pakistan) for distribution in Afghan mosques and Islamic schools.
The largest government printing house, Ariana Press, was also hit by a rocket during the wars, damaging the main building and destroying most of its printing machinery. Today only some very old printing presses which had been housed in surrounding buildings are still in operation there.
Most of the books printed since 2002 are political, religious or legal in nature, but a growing interest in literature has also created a demand for poetry books. As yet comparatively little fiction is published.
Since the formation of transitional government at the beginning of 2002, several new printers have sprung up in Kabul, equipped with Pakistani and Iranian printing machines. The quality of printing is satisfactory but poor quality paper is generally used to keep the costs down. However, most state-owned printing and publishing companies still require accessible investment capital, modern equipment and efficient management to produce and compete in the current markets. The new Investment Law adopted by the Afghan Government allows 100 per cent foreign ownership of Afghan enterprises and there is currently a move towards promoting privatization and corporatisation of these companies.

Internet: Visit Telecom.

Problems:

The Afghan media is allowed freedom of expression of views as guaranteed under the constitution. However, the fledgling media is still under pressure from a number of quarters including the state and other pressure groups. Some of these are as follows:

• Warlords:

• Conservative Sections of Society:

• State:

• Coercion of Journalists: