The Media of Afghanistan: The Challenges of Transition

"The media of Afghanistan, like all other sections of Afghanistan society, is undergoing transition. This briefing examines what transition might mean for a sector that has the potential to shape Afghan opinion and hold government to account but now faces considerable uncertainty."

As stated in the Executive summary: "The role of donors in media support in Afghanistan is probably greater than in any other country at any other time. Such support is largely responsible for the development of such a substantial media sector, but it faces criticism that it is poorly coordinated, short term and not informed by aid effectiveness principles; that it focuses too heavily on advancing the agendas of the donors; and that in some sectors it is distorting the media market in ways that create dependency and inhibit the development of genuinely sustainable Afghan media ventures."

The policy briefing includes the following 6 parts:

1. provides a brief overview of how Afghanistan’s media landscape has been transformed over the past decade.
2. examines the effects of this transformation on Afghanistan’s culture and politics as media reflect the struggle between tradition and modernity.
3. looks at the status and pressures facing journalism in the country.
4. examines the role of donors in support to the Afghan media and the implications of a reduction in such support.
5. examines the shortage of independent national media and the challenges faced by Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA).
6. looks to the future and provides some conclusions drawn from the analysis.

Five main categories of media can be found in Afghanistan: mainstream commercial media, predominantly television; local FM radio, mostly externally funded; ethnic, religious and political media; Taliban media, now using the internet for spreading its information and opinions; government-controlled media, principally Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA). Some media channels are used to promote sectarianism, termed ‘warlord TV’. Gender censorship has been an issue - women appearing alongside men, or appearing unveiled. The idea of political accountability is relatively new; pressure on journalists and their arrests are common, particularly in rural areas. "Afghan journalists wishing to cover sensitive stories look for support from colleagues in the international media to strengthen their own position....The effectiveness of the profession is also undermined by the same political and ethnic divisions that affect wider society, which has contributed to factionalism among journalists’ unions and a lack of impact in making the profession’s case to employers and to government."

"The economics of donor-funded programme making - some of it on key issues like health and education - may work to the temporary financial advantage of the TV and radio stations but against their future sustainability.....The immaturity of the local advertising market is also reflected in the relative absence of local advertising expertise or research....Many observers argue that future support needs to focus on building sustainable institutions that are owned and run by Afghans and serve local or national communities." The further development of RTA as a national TV station is complicated by its dependence on government financing. The new Media Law dictates certain policy- and planning-related governance, but it must be followed to be effective. It also may need strengthening in laws relating to contempt, to incitement, and to hate speech. "But the legal system is taking its time to catch up with some of the more complex implications of the recent media revolution."

The policy briefing concludes with "a number of policy ideas that could command public support and merit further consideration:

• Helping to build a plural media by supporting institutions and initiatives that have proved their worth for the Afghan public domain
• Supporting local radio stations at a level that can be sustained
• Improving donor coordination and setting up an Afghan Media Trust Fund
• Maintaining international media coverage of Afghanistan and providing more training opportunities for Afghan media personnel
• Providing political support, funding and technical expertise to the Afghan Government to create a more effective regulatory system for the media
• Making RTA a public corporation, with greater autonomy in financial and personnel matters, so it can improve its effectiveness as a public service broadcaster
• Working with the Afghan Government and parliament to improve their accountability to the public
• Encouraging greater unity and self-regulation of the journalism profession and of media proprietors
• Reviewing the role and impact of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force]-run media operations and transferring some of these to Afghan ownership as part of the transition process in a sensitive way"