Dikhyaa Mohanty 
A total of 231 media outlets which is around 40 per cent of media in Afghanistan has closed since the country’s takeover by the Taliban. This has led to many journalists losing their jobs, as per a survey conducted by two non-profits.
According to the survey by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA), it revealed that 80 per cent of female journalists and media workers have become unemployed due to restrictions imposed by the Taliban-led government, reports TOLO news. More than 6.400 journalists have lost their jobs since August 15.
According to the RSF and AIJA, of the 543 media outlets operating since the beginning of this year, only 312 were still functioning by the end of November. The survey also revealed that more than four out of every 10 media outlets have disappeared and 60 per cent of journalists and media employees are no longer able to work. Women have suffered much more than men: 84 per cent of them have lost their jobs.
According to the non-profits, there were at least 10 private media organisations operating in most of the provinces in Afghanistan before the fall of Kabul. The central Kabul region, which had more media than anywhere else, has not been spared the carnage. It has lost more than one of every two media outlets (51 per cent). Of the 148 tallied prior to August 15, only 72 are still operating.
