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Afghanistan Anniversary
Press Freedom: Afghan Local Media -- WEB
August 11, 2022
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script Afghanistan Anniversary: Press Freedom: Afghan Local Media
HEADLINE: Local Media Coverage Lands Afghan Journalist Job in New York Newsroom
TEASER: When Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai fled Taliban rule, he thought his career was over — until a US station offered him work
PUBLISHED AT: 8/10/22, 10:50a
BYLINE: Roshan Noorzai
DATELINE: ROCHESTER, NY
VIDEOGRAPHER: Nawid Orokzai
VIDEO EDITOR: Nawid Orokzai
SCRIPT EDITORS: JJ, MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Shamshad TV
GRAPHICS:
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 3:20
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: For VOA Press Freedom. To be released in English, Dari, Pashto on same time/date ))
[[NOTE: AFGHAN ANNIVERSARY SERIES:
This story is part of a special VOA series marking the one-year anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. The series includes eyewitness accounts of the day Kabul fell, stories of Afghan refugees around the world, and data-based analysis of the Taliban's record of governance and human rights, among other topics.]]
((INTRO))
When a local television news station in New York state featured the story of an Afghan journalist who fled Taliban rule, the reporter — Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai — got more than exposure. He also landed a job in television news. From Rochester, New York, Roshan Noorzai has more for VOA.
((Male in Dari))
“When I left Afghanistan, I did not believe I would eventually be a journalist again.”
((Mandatory courtesy: Shamshad TV, YouTube))
((NARRATOR))
This time last year, Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai was a news anchor for the Afghan broadcaster Shamshad.
He survived attacks on him and his station, even leaping from a second-floor window once to escape gunmen.
Still, he planned to stay in his country even as the Taliban made gains in 2021.
But when the militants reached Kabul, he reluctantly decided to leave.
((For radio: Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai is an exiled Afghan journalist))
((Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai, Journalist)) ((Male Dari))
“When I left Afghanistan, I had tears in my eyes… I had a terrible picture in my mind. I knew when I boarded the plane that Afghanistan had gone to a dark age.”
((NARRATOR))
Ahmadzai and his family went to Rochester, New York, where local news stations covered his story, including WROC-TV.
Vice President Wendy Bello says her mother saw the coverage and suggested WROC hire him.
((For radio, Wendy Bello is vice president of WROC-TV in Rochester, New York))
((Wendy Bello, WROC-TV Vice President)) ((Female, English))
“Bilal’s first day was mid-May, and I called my mom up, and I said, ‘You’re not going to believe this, but we did. We hired Bilal.’ And you know, again, he walked in as a true professional.”
((NARRATOR))
Hundreds of journalists have fled Afghanistan, but many have found it difficult to find work in the media.
A Rochester-based nonprofit group that helps resettle Afghan families helped Ahmadzai connect with local media outlets.
((For radio: Ellen Smith is executive director of Keeping our Promise))
((Ellen Smith, Keeping Our Promise Executive Director)) ((Female, English))
“Because I needed to get doors open for him in the journalism community, right? And again, like talking to the local TV stations.”
((NARRATOR))
Ahmadzai’s station now draws on his expertise for coverage.
((Mandatory CG: Pajhwok))
When an earthquake struck Afghanistan’s Paktika province in June, he helped WROC cover the story.
Ahmadzai says he’s lucky to be outside of Taliban control.
((NARRATOR)) The militant group has issued directives on how media can operate...
and harassed and detained journalists.
Ahmadzai himself has received threats on social media since arriving in the U.S.
((NARRATOR))
Now, he says, he and his family can enjoy simple things, like going outside without fearing for their safety.
((For radio: Again, Afghan journalist Ahmadzai))
((Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai, Journalist)) ((Male Dari))
“I never had this opportunity in Afghanistan. Or at least the threats did not allow my family to live in a normal way. To go eat with my family, or walk in a park, take my children to the library.”
((NARRATOR))
But thoughts of Afghanistan are never far away.
((Esmatullah Bilal Ahmadzai, Journalist)) ((Male Dari))
“I hope that the people and journalists of Afghanistan will be able to practice freedom of speech in a meaningful way and tell the truth without censorship.”
((NARRATOR))
((Roshan Noorzai, VOA News, Rochester, New York))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)ROCHESTER, NY
Embargo DateAugust 10, 2022 21:33 EDT
BylineRoshan Noorzai
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
