Afghanistan a dangerous place for journalists: CPJ

KABUL remained a dangerous place where international and local journalists received threats during 2012, a global watchdog said on Thursday.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in a report on its website media outlets united to block a bill that could open the door to increased government restrictions on news coverage.

However, it explained the CPJ had documented no work-related fatalities in Afghanistan last year for the first time since 2005.

As donors prepared to scale down military and economic support, Afghanistan’s vibrant press, with more than 400 news organisations, began to look increasingly overpopulated, the group said.

Despite efforts by local journalists and international organisations to bolster the Afghan media, outlet managers and owners said the decline had already started.

More than 700 journalists had already lost their jobs by June 2012, as the country suffered from an increasingly non-partisan national media environment. On the other hand, it said, the news outlets set up by political or religious leaders, appeared set to survive.

PAN Monitor/mud

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