Preferential Treatment of some Journalists in Balkh
29.09.2012
Community and media house Balkh (Roundtable Discussion)
Journalists and reporters have been complaining about the preferential treatment of journalists and reporters by some governmental institutions and agencies, which are obliged by law to provide information to reporters, the complaints are particularly pointed at the provincial governor office.
Reporters say that in the event of a newsworthy occurrence the provincial governor office and some governmental institutions in Mazar-e-Sharif invite and information a handful and selected journalists and from specific media institutions, while ignoring others.
To analyze the issue, Community and Media House Balkh organized a roundtable, and invited journalists, reporters and media representative from Balkh province.
Representative of Nai (Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan), community association of northern journalists, SAFMA (South Asian Free Media Association), IWPR, TOLO News and network of civil society and human rights participated in the program. Participants concluded to discus and analyze the issue with other media organizations active in Balkh province and share their concerns with the provincial authorities. Participants discussed the constraints they have in accessing information, adding that the issue needs to be discussed with government officials, who are legally responsible to provide information.
A draft of Law of access to information has been handing around for a great deal of time for parliamentarian approval, bust still it seems that the parliament is not willing to approve the law. Afghan journalists have repeatedly object about the parliament refusal to approve that law.
