IEA to provide support for media raises concerns

KABUL (Khaama Press): Acting Minister of Information and Culture, Mullah Khairullah Khairkhah, has said the ministry plans to provide financial support for the media.
The prospect of the plan being implemented has raised concerns about the loss of media freedom under the Taliban administration.
Minister Khaikhah, in a meeting with journalists in Ghazni province said the interim government has considered providing financial support for media. The Ministry of Information and Culture is working on a plan so that the media should receive financial support and continue serving the Afghan community.
Free speech experts and media-supporting institutions are not very optimistic about the implementation of this plan. They believe that Islamic Emirate is trying to control media and enforce censorship.
In response to this plan, Nai-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan has said that the Taliban’s financial support should not undermine the independence of the media.
Nai has emphasized that the financial support should be in good deeds and does not affect the independence, operation and content of the media–adding it should not enforce censorship.
A university lecturer in journalism and media expert told to Khaama Press that the allocation of financial support to media from the Taliban administration is worrisome.
He believes the economic challenges of the media and journalists have positioned the media community in a dire situation, and the Taliban are trying to increase their influence over media and change the content of media to their advantage.
This comes as nearly 50 percent of the media outlets ceased operation mainly due to economic challenges caused due to the late regime change, and the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021. It is also reported that 95 percent of female journalists have lost their jobs.