Afghan Women from RFE/RL Win Awards for Broadcasting Excellence

(Prague, Czech Republic — March 14, 2008) Two young female journalists working for RFE/RL in Kabul have been recognized for superior reporting on international and domestic issues facing Afghanistan.

In recognition of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, the Afghan National Union of Journalists presented Hassiba Shaheed, 24, and Lina Sharifi, 21, with the awards during a March 11 ceremony in Kabul.

Shaheed is a news reporter and anchor who earned distinction for her 2007 series of broadcasts on the life of Afghan nomadic peoples and another series on the rights of women in Afghanistan. Personally, Shaheed has overcome personal tragedy when, as a newlywed, her husband and two family members were killed in a car accident.

Sharifi hosts and produces a popular RFA weekly radio program for youth called “Budding Branches,” a fast-paced mix of news, music, and interviews.

About Radio Free Afghanistan

Radio Free Afghanistan is a leading broadcaster in Afghanistan with an audience of nearly 52 percent of the adult population, according to an independent survey conducted by the Washington-based Intermedia research organization in 2007. Radio Free Afghanistan is regarded one of the most trustworthy and reliable media outlets in the country.

Radio Free Afghanistan programs are transmitted to listeners via shortwave, satellite and AM and FM signals provided by the International Broadcasting Bureau. Radio Free Afghanistan programming is also available via the Internet, at the service’s trilingual website www.azadiradio.org and at www.rferl.org; English-language news about events in Afghanistan can be found on the RFE/RL website.