In 2021, the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan had a devastating impact on the country’s media. About half of Afghanistan’s media outlets have closed, and the majority of journalists have lost their jobs. Journalists face death threats and imprisonment for reporting the truth.
About a year later, we formed Zan Times, a women-led investigative newsroom reporting on human rights violations in Afghanistan. We cover issues such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and the environment in Afghanistan.
Today, we are thrilled to invite you to join our latest newsroom project – the Zan Times Fact-Checking Newsletter. It is a monthly newsletter aimed at combatting pro-Taliban misinformation and promoting accountability in media reporting on Afghanistan. Our goal is to provide truthful and accurate reporting, even in the face of adversity. Reporters Without Borders has provided a grant to power the first three editions of the Zan Times Fact-Checking Newsletter.
Our first edition of the newsletter goes live on June 28 and features a two-month-long investigative report about a female Afghan politician who is lauded by media and organizations around the world. Our fact-checking uncovered discrepancies and inconsistencies in her own narrative of her life, including her attitude toward the Taliban.
Subscribe now to gain early access to our fact-checking investigations, straight to your inbox.
Subscribe by clicking here.
