NEILLI (Pajhwok): A number of reporters in central Daikundi province complain of low salaries, lack of equipment, inadequate access to information and abusive behaviour of their bosses.
The Information and Culture Department says five radio stations and one private TV channel are currently operating in Daikundi. Five female and 35 male journalists are working for them.
Low salary a major issue
Sarwar Suroush, a reporter with Sada-i-Qaria Radio, told Pajhwok Afghan News they were paid little salaries but expected to do more work.
He said: “I’m paid 4,000 afghanis in monthly salary. How can I manage to meet my needs?”
Ehsan Mahdawi, a reporter with Bayan Radio, said working for media organisations the province was very hard. They were paid low salaries, he grumbled, saying the payment was frequently delayed.
He added: “I have worked for a local TV channel called Sabzaha, which has not paid me our salary for year. When we ask for salaries, the employer says he no money.
“When I shared the issue with the Committee to Protect Journalists, the TV channel bosses dismissed me summarily,” he alleged.
Lack of equipment
Ehsan said the local media had not provided them with equipment they required. “Right now I use my personal laptop and smartphone for filing reports. Despite all this, media officials pick fault with our work.”
Access to information
Mohammad Ehsan Mahdawi said obtaining timely information becomes a challenging task for reporters at times, because the authorities concerned refuse to cooperate.
Javed Joya, a freelance journalist, told Pajhwok finding information was problematic as the relevant quarters did not provide even ordinary details of routine happenings.
He said due to the problem, many reports remained incomplete and were not released.
Slighting behaviour
Joya said: “More often than not, journalists have to struggle with a variety of problems, including the insulting behavior of seniors, employers, government officials and others.”
Journalist demands
Joya said: “We want the government and media-support bodies to attach importance to the work of media and pave the way for journalists’ easy access to information.”
He urged the officials of local media outlets to increase the journalists’ salaries, provide reporters with the required equipment and avoid insulting them.
Sarwar Suroush also confirmed journalists’ demand for a hike in salaries and respect for their work.
Response from authorities
Sayed Anwar Shahab, head of Sada-i-Qaria Radio, acknowledged journalists were facing problems in the province. He claimed doing his best to resolve their problems.
However, he admitted heads of some media organisations did not respond to calls from the Committee to Protects Journalists and the Journalists Union and paid no attention to their decisions.
Ghulam Asghar Azizi, acting director of information and culture, said his department had created a committee to assess the problems of journalists and take action to resolve them.
But the official claimed several journalists facing problems did not approach the committee they had created.
sa/mud
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