Afghan media advocacy organization, Nai, reported that 2014 was the most violent year recorded for journalists in Afghanistan. Attacks were up by 64 percent since 2013 and growing intimidation from state and non-state figures threatened media workers and journalists. A tremendous lack of government protection and international support are also influencing the lack of media freedom in Afghanistan, with a failure to prosecute those responsible.
A journalist from Patika province who reported on an attack on Afghan security base that killed two officers said:
“The governor told me in the presence of everyone: ‘Why have you reported on this? … You have no right to report it. I will imprison you. Your life is nothing to me. It's been 12 or 13 months since the threats and I am afraid even when I go home.”
With a growing television audience and a decreasing radio audience, more Afghan citizens are looking to private TV stations to get their news and entertainment. 1TV, one of Afghanistan's leading television stations, reported on the rise of journalists' killings in 2014. They touched upon not only the threat among Afghan journalists, but American journalists reporting in Afghanistan as well. President Jim Boumelha of the International Federation of Journalists stated:
"As a result, some media organisations are weary of sending reporters to war zones out of fear for their safety, even of using material gathered by freelancers in these areas. Failure to improve media safety will adversely impact the coverage of war which will be poorer for lack of independent witnesses."
It is crucial for Afghanistan government to protect these journalists and prosecute those who pose as a threat to them. An awareness of this can significantly effect the safety of media workers and help create a more intelligent, honest society.