World Press Freedom Day: From Journalism to Unemployment, The Story of a Female Journalist in Afghanistan
Tawazon – On World Press Freedom Day, the story of a female journalist in Afghanistan shows how restrictions and economic hardship have pushed many women out of media work.
Since the Taliban returned to power, a heavy shadow has fallen over media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan.
Many media outlets have reduced their operations due to financial difficulties and restrictions and some have even cut staff to survive.
At the same time, some outlets linked to political groups have been shut down by the authorities and these pressures have affected women journalists the most.
At sunrise, she checks her phone with half-open eyes, hoping for a new message, something that might change her life. But among countless messages, the one she is waiting for never arrives, turing hope into disappointment.
Shogofa, a journalism graduate from Kabul University, says she worked in radio, television and print media for five years but has been unemployed for the past year and a half.
“I have worked with different media outlets. Now I am unemployed. Every morning, the first thing I do is check my phone,hoping that maybe my job application has been accepted or someone has contacted me. But when I see nothing, I feel very disappointed and sometimes life feels meaningless,” she told Tawazon.
The sound of her sick mother sewing clothes deepens her pain. Unemployment has not only affected her mentally and emotionally, but has also dimmed her hopes for the future.
She says her sick mother, elderly father and younger brothers once depended on her but now that hope has turned into despair.
“My mother has kidney problems and doctors have told her not to work, but because we cannot afford treatment, she is forced to sew again. If she doesn’t work, we have nothing to eat. When I see her collapse from pain, it breaks my heart. Sometimes I wish I had learned tailoring instead of journalism.”
Her story reflects a painful reality, a life shaped by struggle and hardship. “I applied everywhere for jobs, but I was not accepted because I had no connection. I was even willing to work for a low salary, but no one helped me. This has been the most bitter experience of my life,” she added.
Shogofa says she also reached out to organizations supporting journalists, but received negative responses.“I contacted several organizations, but they said they had no budget. My family cannot wait for an uncertain future.”
She calls on media support organizations and authorities to seriously address the situation of journalists, especially women.
“Restrictions must be reduced and steps should be taken to ensure the economic security of women journalists.Many women like me are unemployed and facing serious financial problems”, she said.
Shogofa’s story is not unique. Many women journalists in Afghanistan have lost their jobs since the Taliban returned to power. Some have left the country, while others are struggling to survive.
The Afghanistan Journalists Center has also reported that declining international aid has forced many media outlets to scale down operations and reduce staff.
According to the report, financial shortages have led to budget cuts and reduced programming, with impact being especially severe in the provinces.
The United Nations human rights office has also warned that cuts in financial and technical support have severely affected Afghanistan’s media sector and has called on the international community to support Afghan journalists.
Meanwhile, many media outlets have shut down due to economic challenges and restrictions, leaving a large number of journalists, especially women without work.
Shogofa’s story is just one example of the difficult reality faced by women journalists in Afghanistan, wher restrictions and economic hardship continue to threaten their future.