MAZAR-E SHARIF CITY (SW) – Some journalists in Balkh province say that the dual approach of local officials towards visual and auditory media has made it difficult for them to access information when needed.
Faridullah (alias), a journalist in Balkh, says: “We do not have access to information. Unfortunately, there is a difference in treatment where they invite visual media to programs, but they do not invite auditory and print media and news agencies to programs, and in terms of information sharing, their cooperation with visual media is more, and they do not share information with us at all.”
Sajad Mosawi, a reporter for “Afghan Voice News Agency” in Balkh, also says: “Reporters face hardships. These problems include reduced access to information and neglect, and sometimes they prioritize visual media over auditory media.”
Emphasizing the right to equal access to information, officials of some media outlets in Balkh say that local officials should collaborate with them regardless of the type of media.
Seyed Mohammad Yazdanparast, the head of “Radio Nahad” in Balkh, says: “I give an example that when the police commander of Balkh went to the city, visual media were with him, and when the head of information and culture went to rebuild Mawlana’s father’s shrine, and whenever any other program is held, preference is given to visual media. We ask officials to facilitate things for the media.”
Meanwhile, Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Publications for the Ministry of Information and Culture, says that if journalists and media houses face dual treatment by local officials, they can lodge a complaint with the Media Violations Commission. “Journalists encountering such issues should refer to the Media Violations Commission, and we have also instructed all spokespersons to provide timely information to journalists,” he said.
It is worth mentioning that after the return of the Islamic Emirate to power in Afghanistan, the operation of 9 visual media outlets and 12 auditory media outlets in Balkh were stopped.
