What Wasn’t Said: Rethinking Two Decades of Media in Afghanistan

In the two decades following the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Afghanistan witnessed an explosion of media outlets, celebrated as one of the country’s greatest democratic achievements. But behind the headlines and broadcasts lies a more complicated truth, one of missed opportunities, structural inequalities, and unchallenged power. In this lecture, Zahra Nader will offer a critical reflection on the role media played in shaping public perception and culture, its heavy dependence on donor funding, and the failure to build a sustainable, independent press. She will also examine how Afghan media remained largely male-dominated, sidelining women journalists from decision-making. By asking what wasn’t said, whose voices were left out, and why, this conversation invites us to reimagine what the media in Afghanistan could still do.

Check out the PLS website for the full fall line-up of speakers.