Lt-Col A. Tack
07-23-2009, 01:26 PM
Afghanistan Tells Journos: No Election Criticism
* By Nathan Hodge
* July 23, 2009, 12:03 pm
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
In advance of my trip here, I received a copy of the Afghan election commissions “code of conduct,” to be signed by journalists who want to be accredited to cover the upcoming vote. It’s a pretty interesting read. Among other things, journalists are to “avoid printing, broadcasting and publishing of scandalous advertisements and disgrace reports about [a] candidate’s personality or behavior which could affect the election results.”
So: No mentioning of corruption, then? Better not mention the civil war, either. The code also directs that journalists “refrain from publishing and broadcasting of rumors and gossips.”
Of course, Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election is potentially much more volatile than any Broward County recount. And the code’s rule number one makes clear: Reporters are barred from releasing reports that might incite violence or tribal conflict.
That rule makes sense, to a point, but it’s also troubling. Interpreted broadly enough, this “code of conduct” could be used as a rather sweeping tool to close down or restrict media outlets that publish critical reports. Just sayin’.
Link (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/afghanistan-tells-journos-no-criticism-please/)
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4631/dsc00051023x681.jpg
* By Nathan Hodge
* July 23, 2009, 12:03 pm
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
In advance of my trip here, I received a copy of the Afghan election commissions “code of conduct,” to be signed by journalists who want to be accredited to cover the upcoming vote. It’s a pretty interesting read. Among other things, journalists are to “avoid printing, broadcasting and publishing of scandalous advertisements and disgrace reports about [a] candidate’s personality or behavior which could affect the election results.”
So: No mentioning of corruption, then? Better not mention the civil war, either. The code also directs that journalists “refrain from publishing and broadcasting of rumors and gossips.”
Of course, Afghanistan’s upcoming presidential election is potentially much more volatile than any Broward County recount. And the code’s rule number one makes clear: Reporters are barred from releasing reports that might incite violence or tribal conflict.
That rule makes sense, to a point, but it’s also troubling. Interpreted broadly enough, this “code of conduct” could be used as a rather sweeping tool to close down or restrict media outlets that publish critical reports. Just sayin’.
Link (http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/07/afghanistan-tells-journos-no-criticism-please/)
http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4631/dsc00051023x681.jpg