NEILI - Eighty percent of female journalists quitted their jobs within the past two years in central Daikundi province owing to cultural barriers, non-payment of salaries and discrimination, officials and reporters said Tuesday.
According to the provincial Information and Culture department, 15 female journalists had been working in the province for the past 18 years, but their number reduced to three within the past two year, showing a significant decline.
Why journalists quit their profession?
When asked, female journalists cited non-payment of salaries in a timely manner, discriminatory treatment at some media officials and cultural issues as major reasons why they left job.
Fatima Watandost, who served as a reporter with a local radio for three months but left her job due lack of salaries, has started a new job at the Afghan Aid organization.
She said, “I love reporting but due salary and transport problem forced me to quit that profession because I needed economic support.”
Niakbakht, another reporter, also held similar views and said she left her job four months ago after working for five years with a private TV “Subzha” as reporter but abandoned  her job after she was not paid salary. She is now searching for a new job.
Masoma Seerat, a female reporter at Daikunid radio, said she also left her profession due to her colleagues’ discriminatory treatment at office.
A number of other female journalists expressed similar views and urged the government to address their problems at the earliest possible.
What officials say?
However, some media directors reject the allegations of non-payment of salaries and discrimination.
Mohammad Anwar Shahab, director of Sada-i-Qarya in Daikundi, said: “Many media outlets have been facing financial crisis and they have not been able to pay salaries to their staff timely.”
He said, “Discrimination has no space in media outlets and we respect female journalists and we never allow our staff to have bad behavior with their female reporters.”
Journalists defense organizations
Mohammad Rajal, a media activist, also said delayed salaries, security threats, access to information, violence against female media workers and insufficient privileges were major reasons why female journalists left job in the province.
He said the issue had been shared with the authorities concerned to seek their support.
Government response
Mohammad Ali Uruzgani, the deputy governor, said they always held meetings with media outlets’ directors about female reporters’ problems but unfortunately they were refusing to cooperate.
Mohammad Hussain Seerat, Diadkundi information and culture department head, told Pajhwok Afghan News he would invite all media directors in the province to address female journalists’ related issues as soon as possible. (Pajhwok)