Dozens of print media outlets closed in Ghazni

GHAZNI (Pajhwok): Writers, culturists and study lovers say more than 40 newspapers, weeklies, magazines and journals were published in southern Ghazni province in the past, but now all except the state-run weekly ‘Sanai’ are closed.

Lawang, Nawas, Walwala, Kandaw, Marsala, Zamzama, Hayat Navin, Jahan Malika, Nadai Ghazna, Jawanani Emrooz, Sada-i-Jawan, Payami Jawan, Payami Khatam, Ghazna, Ghazni, Ghaznavi, Alberuni, Mehr, Nistan, Astazi and many others newspapers, weeklies and magazines were published and reached the readers, but now they have been shut.

Writers and culturists in Ghazni cite various reasons for the closure of these print media outlets.

Murtaza Wardag, editor-in-chief of now closed magazine ‘Ghaz’, told Pajhwok Afghan News that lack of financial support and people’s lack of interest were two main factors that led to the closure of print media outlets.

He added his magazine Ghaz had been published regularly in the last few years but it had to be closed due to financial constraints.

He said if he was extended financial support, he was ready to resume publication of his magazine and offer it to readers.

Another closed magazine Nawar owner, Abdul Majeed Jarand, said another factor behind the closure of print media outlet was that people did not buy newspapers, magazines and books.

He told Pajhwok had work been done to promote reading culture and encourage people to buy newspapers and magazines at a reasonable price, then the industry would not have collapsed.

In other societies, he said, people valued reading newspapers and magazines and considered it a serious need of study, which was the secret of the sustainability of print media.

Humira, a resident of Ghazni city and a student of a private university, said she was heartbroken since print media outlets were closed.

She told Pajhwok she used to buy and read newspapers, weekly magazines and journals published in Ghazni, but unfortunately she was now deprived of all of them.

“Weekly, monthly were published in Ghazni like Ghaz, Nawar, Lawang, Kandaw and others in the past. I would study them, but now these outlets have been closed.”

Professor Mohammad Mustafa, Languages ​​and Literature faculty head at Ghazni University, listed government’s weak support, lack of study culture and weak self-affirmation plan as reasons behind the collapse of the print media.

He said print media was seriously needed for intellectual growth of the people and the current situation was no less than a disaster.

But Mullah Nisar Ahmad Ghaznavi, Director of Information and Culture, said print media outlets owners started their work without having enough experience or plan for the sustainability of their organizations.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Lack of better management, lack of long-term economic and financial resources, people’s lack of interest, weak marketing and low quality production are major factors that led to the collapse of print media.”

He said his department lacked enough resources to financially support print media outlets, but they had organized various workshops and seminars to improve their quality.

Political, literary, cultural, Islamic, social and other materials were published in the now closed magazines, newspapers and journals in Ghazni.

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