Badghis female journalists seek support

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): Some local female journalists in northwestern Badghis province have demand support and said that information should be made available to them in a timely manner, but the government officials said that there was no problem in accessing information and they support women journalists.

It is pertinent to mention that currently four women journalists and employees worked in seven media outlets in Badghis province.

Some of these journalists claim that most of the time government departments did not provide statistics and information to them and they refuse to conduct interviews.

It is pertinent to mention that currently four women journalists and employees worked in seven media outlets in Badghis province.

Some of these journalists claim that most of the time government departments did not provide statistics and information to them and they refuse to conduct interviews.

Naseera Mohammadi, one of the journalists, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “After the change of the political system on August 15, 2021, access to information was one of the major challenges for journalists, which has been lifted to some extent after about three years, but female journalists are still facing this problem and some departments have not made information available timely.”

Naz Gul Ibrahimzada, another women journalist in Badghis, shared similar views and said: “When we ask for statistics, they don't even want to talk to us while providing information is something bigger, this has become very problematic for me and has caused me to not run some reports.”

She was concerned about the situation and said if this process continued the number of women journalists would further decline.

“We want relevant institutions to support us, work should be done in this regard so that we have timely access to information,” she said.

Nisar Ahmad Akbari, a university teacher, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “Access to information is the inalienable right of all members of the society and governments are obliged to make the necessary information available to journalists without discrimination.”

He suggested that in order to solve this challenge, meetings should be held with local officials, misunderstandings should be resolved, and if there is no agreement, this problem should be shared with the central authorities in order to address this issue.

Akbari said: “People need to be informed about the daily affairs, plans and programs and orders issued by the government, this is a facility for the government to implement the rules and regulations.”

Saad Khalil Farotan, deputy head of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, said Access to information is the inalienable right of people in the society and they try to make information available to journalists without discrimination.

He said due to the fact that there is no special media for women in this province and the male journalists also cooperate with the female section, it is necessary for the information and interviews to be conducted by the male section.

He said: “We always make information available to the media and female reporters can also benefit from it, It is better for female reporters to go to the business premises of women and give interviews, and in offices because it is a male environment, we prefer male reporters to give interviews, because they are comfortable, but still we don't see any problem.”

He renewed government’s determination to support and cooperate with all journalists, especially women.

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