KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Muhajir Farahi has urged the media to reflect societal realities in a balanced manner and avoid raising unrealistic expectations among the public.
He also said some foreign media outlets published content under seemingly attractive messages that undermined social unity and fuelled prejudice among Afghans.
Farahi made the remarks at a one-day seminar on strengthening journalists’ intellectual, ideological and professional capacities in southwestern Nimroz province.
He said: “Young people active on social media should make sincere efforts and work diligently. Just as defending the frontline is obligatory during a military war, safeguarding the media front is also obligatory. Everyone should work in this field with complete sincerity.”
He reiterated that the media should report societal realities in a balanced manner and avoid creating unrealistic expectations.
He added that some foreign media outlets used seemingly attractive messages to publish content that undermined social unity and fuelled prejudice among Afghans.
Meanwhile, Director of Mass Media Monitoring Mawlawi Safiullah Raed said: “The enemies of Islam and the country have been defeated in the military war and have now turned to an ideological war. As social media are important tools in this war, our journalists and young people should use these platforms effectively.”
He stressed the need to observe Islamic, national and social values and consider the consequences of publishing news before making it public.
The Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) said other speakers highlighted the importance of the media, noting that timely and easy access to information helped disseminate facts, promote accurate reporting and prevent misinformation.
The ministry added that participants welcomed the seminars as a way to strengthen the professional capacities of journalists and media officials and called for similar events to be organised in the future.
kk/sa
