conflict & communication online, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2019
www.cco.regener-online.de
ISSN 1618-0747

Elisabeth Eide, Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar & Hasina Shirzad
Afghan journalists in a balancing act: Coping with deteriorating safety

Afghan journalists have been experiencing a deteriorating situation, due to a multitude of threats. They operate in a situation of low popular literacy, as well as low media literacy. Threats from Taliban and other insurgents cause many journalists to live in constant fear. This article is based on interviews with 28 Afghan journalists. They report that they are less willing to take risks than before, their editors even less so. Routines are far from always in place in media institutions, and quite a few journalists have not received necessary security equipment. Almost all report experiencing post-traumatic stress syndrome, some have even experienced physical harm. We conclude by stating that Afghan journalists are caught in a balancing act, facing powerful violent insurgents, oppressive authorities and media owners.

The authors:

Elisabeth Eide is professor of journalism studies at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. She has published a large number of books and articles, among them co-authored a book on Afghanistan, and has travelled a lot in the country.
eMail: elisabe@oslomet.no

Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar is Director at NAI – supporting open media in Afghanistan, monitoring media freedom and journalist safety in the country. He is also working on a Ph D and has extensive journalistic experience.
eMail: mujeeb@nai.or.af

Hasina Shirzad is an MA student in journalism at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University. She has a BA in journalism from Kabul University and has wide journalistic experience from Afghanistan.
eMail: shirzadhasina@gmail.com