Afghan women’s TV makes history
An all-female television station will begin broadcasting tomorrow, the first of its kind in Afghanistan. The shoestring operation will provide news and views that reflect women’s experiences
KABUL // A television channel dedicated to women is set to begin broadcasting in Afghanistan.
The move is the first of its kind in a country whose media industry, like many areas of society, is dominated by men. Zan TV (Women’s TV) begins broadcasting tomorrow with a staff of female presenters and producers, after a marketing campaign on billboards in Kabul and on social media.
Female newsreaders appear regularly on many Afghan channels, but an entire station for women is a novelty. Its arrival highlights the fact that change is taking place in Afghanistan, even if it is often slow and patchy.
“I am so happy that this television station has been created for women because there are women in our society who are not aware of their rights,” said Khatira Ahmadi, 20, a producer at the station.
“So this station represents women and we work to raise the voice of women so they can defend their rights.” The government and foreign aid organisations have often cited women’s rights and education and media freedom as among the biggest achievements since the Taliban was toppled in 2001.
Still, Afghanistan is one of the most difficult places in the world for women in the media, and there is no guarantee of success in the poor and war- ravaged nation with about 40 TV stations.
Media entrepreneur Hamid Samar, the founder of Zan TV, said he was banking on large female audiences in big cities, such as Kabul, who are hungry for news and discussion that reflect their experiences.
“There has been a lot of talk about women’s rights and media rights,” he said. “But we’ve never seen anything special for women and that’s why we’ve done this.” Zan TV runs on a shoestring budget by using low-cost digital technology and operating from a basic studio in Kabul.
It focuses on talk shows along with some programmes on health and music.
Zan TV relies heavily on a team of mainly young women, many of whom are students. Youth and enthusiasm make up for what it lacks in experience. About 16 male technicians work in graphics, camera operation and editing, as well as teaching female colleagues with little access to media training.
Some of the female staff, such as Ms Ahmadi, have had to cope with disapproving family members or brushed aside threats to be able to pursue their media careers. “I came to share my experience with colleagues here and I am really happy working along with the other girls,” she said.