An Assessment of Post-Taliban Media Development in Afghanistan (2002-2017)
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An Assessment of Post-Taliban Media Development in Afghanistan (2002-2017) by Janan Mosazai A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Journalism (MJ) in The School of Journalism and Communication Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario © Janan Mosazai Abstract This research project constitutes the first of its kind in-depth baseline assessment of the growth and development of the Afghan media sector post-2001. The assessment utilizes the United Nations Media Development Indicators (MDIs) for this specific purpose. In doing so, this thesis project tests the assumption that despite pressures from both the government, the Taliban-led insurgency and other non-government actors in Afghanistan, and challenges related to financial sustainability and professionalism, the post-Taliban Afghan independent media sector is sufficiently robust, resilient and diffuse across Afghanistan and enjoys widespread political and public support that it will continue to survive and grow as a strong social and political force in the country, and thus contribute to the further entrenchment of democracy in Afghanistan, unlike all other past short-lived instances of media freedom in Afghanistan’s history of struggle for constitutionalism and democracy going back to the 19th century. ii Acknowledgements I owe a profound debt of gratitude to my thesis supervisor, Prof. Christopher Dornan, for his guidance, support and great patience throughout my association with the School of Journalism — in his strong support to my initial application to the MJ program, in his teaching and throughout this research project. Prof. Dornan is a rare educator who is not only an outstanding academic but also a wise, caring teacher. I am grateful to him. I am also thankful to the many professors and academic support staff at the School of Journalism from whom I learned a great deal. I would not have been able to complete this project without the constant encouragement and support of my wife Dr. Zangah Mosazai. My deep appreciation also goes to the many reporters, editors and media activists who agreed to the research interviews to share their reflections on the development of Afghan media in the last decade and a half and who, in the face of great odds and risk of personal harm, continue to keep the flame of press freedom and freedom of expression alight. This thesis is dedicated to them. iii Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iii List of Tables .................................................................................................................... vi List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................. vii 1 Chapter: INTRODUCTION, THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK, AND MYTHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Theoretical framework................................................................................................. 10 1.3 Methodology ................................................................................................................ 21 2 Chapter: HISTORY OF AFGHAN MEDIA ................................................................... 26 2.1 The beginning of Afghan Media .................................................................................. 26 2.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 36 3 Chapter: LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ........................................................ 39 3.1 Legal Framework ......................................................................................................... 39 3.2 Regulatory system for broadcasting ............................................................................ 59 3.3 Defamation Laws and other legal restrictions on Journalists ...................................... 61 3.4 Censorship ................................................................................................................... 63 3.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 71 4 Chapter: PLURALITY AND DIVERSITY OF MEDIA ............................................... 73 4.1 State takes positive measures to promote pluralist media ........................................... 74 4.2 State ensures compliance with measures to promote pluralist media .......................... 76 4.3 A diverse mix of public, private and community media .............................................. 79 4.4 License and spectrum allocation ................................................................................ 101 4.5 Taxation and business regulation............................................................................... 103 iv 4.6 Advertising ................................................................................................................ 105 4.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 108 5 Chapter: MEDIA AS A PLATFORM FOR DEMOCRACY ...................................... 111 5.1 Media reflects diversity of society ............................................................................. 111 5.2 Media, women’s participation and hiring practices ................................................... 117 5.3 Public service broadcasting model ............................................................................ 121 5.4 Media self-regulation ................................................................................................. 126 5.5 Requirements for fairness and impartiality ................................................................ 130 5.6 Levels of public trust and confidence in the media ................................................... 133 5.7 Safety of journalists ................................................................................................... 138 5.8 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 148 6 Chapter: PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS .................................................................................................................... 152 6.1 Availability of professional media training ............................................................... 152 6.2 Availability of academic courses in media practice .................................................. 159 6.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 164 7 Chapter: INFRASTRUCTURAL CAPACITY ............................................................ 165 7.1 Availability of technical resources for the media ...................................................... 165 7.2 Press, broadcasting and ICT penetration ................................................................... 176 7.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 183 8 Chapter: FINAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................... 185 Bibliography or References .......................................................................................... 195 v List of Tables Table 1: Leading 10 TV channels in Afghanistan by percentage of audience share (average of rates in the August 2013 - November 2014 period) Table 2: Leading 11 radio channels in Afghanistan by percentage of average daily reach (average of rates in the August 2013-November 2014 period) Table 3: Print media audience shares Table 4: Percentage of media penetration rates in June 2010 Table 5: Percentage of audience preferences for TV and radio as sources of information in a four-year period (2013-2016) Table 6: Afghan peoples’ levels of confidence in the country’s media (2007-2017) Table 7: Total number of students enrolled in journalism programs in Afghanistan in 2017 Table 8: Growth of mobile phone subscriptions in Afghanistan (2002-2016) Table 9: Growth of internet use in Afghanistan by percentage of population (2002- 2016) vi List of Acronyms AJSC Afghanistan Journalists Safety Committee ACKU Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University AJC Afghanistan Journalists Centre AJMEF Afghanistan Journalists and Media Entities Federation ANDS Afghanistan National Development Strategy ANJU Afghanistan National Journalists Union ARTF Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund ATRA Afghanistan Telecommunications Regulatory Authority AWJU Afghan Women Journalists Union BNA Bakhtar News Agency SCHRN Civil Society and Human Rights Network CIMA Centre for International Media Assistance CLJ Constitutional Loya Jirga CPJ Committee to Protect Journalists CSO Civil Society Organization GMIC Government Media and Information Centre Gbps Gigabits per second ICT Information and Communication Technology IFES International Foundation for Electoral Systems IMS International Media Support ISP Internet Service Provider