Independent media, Afghanistan’s one major success story, is under intense financial pressure.
Over the last few weeks, private media in Herat and Balkh provinces have sought government assistance. The government has a duty to encourage and support free media, media professionals feel.
Abdul Qahar Sarwari, newspaper columnist and lecturer, says more space needs to be created for media to thrive.
After the fall of the Taleban in 2001, Afghan media thrived. Hundreds of media organisations sprouted. While a majority was professionally run, some owners invested only for commercial gain, and many have shut, says Sarwari.
He says media organisations shut for three reasons: financial instability, unprofessional management and staff, and profit-driven investment.
The government is intending to amend the media bill on membership fee and royalty. Saber Mohmand, the spokesperson of the ministry says, “The Ministry of Culture and Information has drafted a new media bill, and sent it to the Ministry of Justice. There will be a guarantee (to investors) for establishing and running media, and discounts for membership fee and royalty.”
Fee for membership and the royalty charged were very high for private media. Under the proposed bill, it will be revised to 10,000 Afs (150 USD) per month for general TV channels, 3,000 Afs (45 USD) for local TV, 10,000 Afs for general radios and 3,000 Afs for local radios. The fee for cinemas and cable networks that used to be 40,000 Afs (599 USD) will be scaled down to 10,000 Afs. The changes are in response to pleas from Afghan media and film organisations.
Private media managers in Herat have written to President Ashraf Ghani expressing serious concerns about the likely collapse of the media. They referred to the burden of taxes, calling it a “knife that has gotten to the bone”. They also urged the president to change electricity consumption from commercial to the cheaper domestic rate. Also, media should be allotted plots because of prohibitively high rents.
Hamed Momen from Nai says, “Media offices pay a monthly 100,000 Afs (1,480 USD) for rent and electricity.” At least 15 organisations in Herat are on the verge of closure, he warns. Thirty print and film organisations have closed in Balkh.
