More than 6,400 journalists have lost their jobs in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the war-ravaged country four months ago, according to a survey conducted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and its local partner Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA).
The survey has brought to light a dramatic change in Afghan media landscape after August-September.
More than four out of every ten media outlets have disappeared and 60% of journalists and media employees are no longer able to work.
Women have suffered much more than men: 84% of them have lost their jobs. The figures for the previous situation come from a survey of the media and journalists operating in Afghanistan that was carried out before the Taliban took control of the country.
According to the survey, s total of 231 media outlets have had to close down during this period.
“Of the 543 media outlets tallied in Afghanistan at the start of the summer, only 312 were still operating at the end of November. This means that 43% of Afghan media outlets disappeared in the space of three months,” RSF stated.
“Of the 543 media outlets tallied in Afghanistan at the start of the summer, only 312 were still operating at the end of November. This means that 43% of Afghan media outlets disappeared in the space of three months, “ the survey stated.
Four months ago just before the Taliban takeover, most Afghan provinces had at least ten privately-owned media outlets but now some regions have almost no local media at all, RSF said.
According to RSF, there used to be 10 media outlets in the mountainous northern province of Parwan but now just three are functioning. In the western city of Herat (the country’s third largest) and the surrounding province, only 18 of the 51 media outlets are still operating – a 65% fall. The central Kabul region, which had more media that anywhere else, has not been spared the carnage. It has lost more than one of every two media outlets (51%). Of the 148 tallied prior to 15 August, only 72 are still operating.
Six provinces have seen three quarters of their male journalists lose their jobs. But no female journalist at all is still working in 15 of the country’s 34 provinces, the survey found.
Afghanistan has been regularly listed in recent years as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. It was ranked 122nd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index that RSF published last April.
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