KABUL (SW): Today at a news conference in Kabul, NAI-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan announced its findings on “investigative journalism” in Afghanistan. NAI reported that 83 percent of journalists and media outlets that had participated in their survey said that “lack of access to information” has been one of the biggest obstacles for reporters to prepare investigative reports in the country.
Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, CEO of NAI said, the government, in certain ways, wants to limit the scope of investigative journalism and the government sources avoid to provide information in many ways.
Khalvatgar informed that 20 media outlets in Kabul and 40 others in Herat, Balkh, Kandahar, and Jalalabad had participated in their survey.
The survey also showed that the lack of a safe and suitable environment for gathering information and preparing investigative reports is the second most important obstacle to investigative journalists in the country, after the lack of access to information; and 30 percent of the media executives have said that their investigative reporting have failed due to these impediments.
Sayed Ikram Afzali, a member of ‘Committee on Monitoring Access to Information’ at Wolesi Jirga said that lack of access to information is still a challenge that most investigative reporters are facing. However, Afzali informed that according to existing laws on “access to information”, other commissions should be formed in the provinces as well, but the government has failed to do so.
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