USAID/Afghanistan
Brainstorming group during Economic Trade and Press Club meeting.
Twenty-nine Afghan journalists attended the Second Trade and Economic Press Club Meeting on February 2. Jan Forester, an award-winning Australian journalist, outlined why press clubs are important, showed examples of regional and international press clubs and their functions, and discussed the usefulness of specialization. Her presentation was followed by thoughtful questions about the difference between press clubs and press unions, a brief history of Afghan press clubs, and an open discussion on sustainability. The head of the BBC Persian Service, Daoud Azami, gave a presentation on the press club’s chief purpose — generating trade and economic stories. There was a lively discussion about how political and economic stories differ and the purpose of a business press. Journalists filled out a questionnaire on the key topics they would like to see covered in the press club including: the oil pipeline; banking; how free trade works; the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, and other trade agreements; smuggling and the illegal economy; water, energy, and electricity.
USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 2/1/2011-2/15/2011