Cultural & economic issues: No female journalist in southeast

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): In addition to economic issues, there are cultural restrictions which keep women from working as journalist in southeastern provinces, media representatives said on Saturday.

Officials of media and journalists protection groups have asked the government and international donor agencies to resolve problems media outlets face.

There are 54 radio stations and TV channels and some print media outlets in Logar, Paktia, Paktia and Khost provinces, employing more than 200 people, but there is no female among them.

“The main reason behind no female presence in media is the lack of enough budget and cultural restrictions, Chinar local radio director in Khost, Mohammad Ghafoor Mahidi, said.

“Girls can’t work with media due to outdate culture in the region and due to the fear of being threatened,” he said.

Based on a survey conducted two months ago, the number of female media workers has declined in 2014 due to violence against them.

“Doing away with bad traditions and creating awareness can help recruit females in the media,” a civil society.

Journalism faculty director at the Sheikh Zayed University, Dr. Wahidi, said girls in Khost were not interested in studying journalism.

Writer and journalist Ilyas Wahdat said the lack of female journalists in a society badly affected the society. “Male journalists cannot easily interview women who are victims of violence, but female journalists can do that better,” he said.

In the near future, women participation in media is difficult or impossible, said chairman of the independent journalists association, Aseel Zazai.

“As cultural and security issues are dominant in our region, girls are not willing to work with media outlets. But if the international community financially assists media outlets, there is hope it will pave the way for women participation in media,” he said.

myn/ma

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