Training helps local leaders get 'Wise' to media

KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan – A free press is something many westerners have known all their lives, but it’s a relatively new concept in a country formerly controlled by a series of oppressive regimes.

To help change this, the Wise Strategic Communications Company, in cooperation with Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense and the International Security Assistance Force, taught a series of classes, Feb. 14 through 15, designed to help local leaders understand and make use of a free press.

“As community leaders they don’t know how to transfer information between society and the press,” said course instructor Shahmahmad Mall. “Most don’t know what is freedom of information [or] that a person in entitled to express themselves freely.”

The course curriculum, which was designed by the journalism faculty at Kabul University and the Afghan Ministry of Education and Information, addressed subjects including, the role of media in a democracy, message development, conducting press conferences and spokesman roles and responsibilities. 

The two-day workshop hosted about 40 provincial, tribal and military leaders at Camp Clark. 

Among the event’s key attendess were Khost Mayor Jahn Gul, Provincial Governor’s Spokesman Mohamed Zadran, and Khost Director of Women’s Affairs Rogul Zadran.

According to attendees, the event was informative and helpful.

“We learned about the media and how it can be used to help the government communicate with the people,” said Mondazai District Sub Govorner Wali Shah Hemut. Hemut said he would use the lessons learned in the class to keep the people in his district informed of government activities.

According to Mall, the class was the first of several iterations slated to take place throughout Afghanistan.