Life and death in party city

Abstract

An experienced international correspondent, Kingstone returns from Afghanistan to report on the problems of the media there: “Neither the Government nor the public understands what freedom of the press means… The idea that it is the responsibility of the fledgling media to hold the Government accountable for its actions and also for the media to be held accountable for what it writes is unfathomable. Afghan journalists are intimidated and are vulnerable in ways that Western journalists can only imagine, so the independence, freedom and diversity are extremely fragile concepts.” And she concludes: “If Afghanistan’s journalism is to flourish – and it’s a big if – among the issues it has to look at are convincing the police and other law enforcement bodies that the media is something to be protected, not muzzled or manipulated… The Government has to improve its strategic communications and resist the temptation to blame the messenger. A credible public broadcaster needs to emerge, the funding and manipulation of media from abroad decreased, and a solid advertising market to emerge on the back of a flourishing private sector. In an insecure situation, the media faces a similar challenge to almost anyone and anything else in this country – simply to survive.”