Sayed Zafar Hashemi - Spring 2007

Click on photo to enlarge or download: Sayed Zafar HashemiSince August, I have worked with the Afghanistan Stabilization Program in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as media monitoring officer and journalist. In addition, I am first-year student of Kabul University.

In my job, I write articles, stories and press releases on reconstruction, rehabilitation, security and governance improvements and infrastructure development nationwide to help strengthen the central government's approaches to the remotest areas the country.

In 2004, I had some journalism training in Kabul, which covered basics of journalism - how to do interviews, how to develop ideas, the qualities and responsibilities of a good journalist and many more.

In 2005, I had some broadcast training in radio and TV, when I learned how to use journalistic tools and audiovisual software to produce radio and television programs, as well as how to manage a music recoding studio. I also learned to be inspired to make jingles, record musical clips and make audio and video songs.

That year, I also worked as a journalist, program producer and news presenter for a radio station, Nawa 103.1 FM, where I produced a biweekly one-hour program in which I tried to reflect peoples' problems and seek responsible governmental authorities to respond to the issue, aiming to reveal facts and realities bothering people in the society.

I also worked as studio manager to produce audio clips, radio jingles, instrumental pieces (Afghani instruments mixed with Western music), contemporary and folkloric songs and children's anthems. The main idea was to present dead Afghan music in a new and public-demanded style to help enrich Afghan culture.

In 2006, I worked as a director for a production house, AWAZ (the Voice in Dari), where I made a family based entertainment TV program, "Joyenda Yabenda" (seeker is finder) in seven episodes in seven provinces of Afghanistan. The idea of the program was to increase public awareness about the newly established National Assembly, its rules and responsibilities, as well as better understanding of the elected representatives' personalities.

I have made a number of documentaries, video clips for audio songs and fiction films about hot issues in society, out of which children, freedom of speech, or the history of Jirga (National Gathering) in the country could be presented as examples.

The main focus of my internship at the Scripps Howard Foundation will be to learn about new and highly developed media and its pattern of work in the United States. I intend to apply the experience to my daily work when I return home and share information in my classes and with my classmates and colleagues. This will help to bring positive changes in the current, change-demanding media in my country.

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