"Journalists operating in conflict zones are at a heightened risk for psychological distress due to exposure to potentially traumatic assignments (PTA). Although considerable research has explored occupational trauma among journalists, there remains a crucial gap regarding the interplay between resi ... lience, cumulative lifetime trauma exposure, and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), particularly within non-Western, high-risk contexts. Grounded in Communication Theory of Resilience (CTR), a moderated-mediation model investigates the relationship between the mediating role of resilience and the moderating impact of cumulative lifetime exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE) in the relationship between PTA and PTSD symptoms among Afghan journalists. Utilizing a cross-sectional survey methodology, data were collected from Afghan news journalists with 300 valid responses. The results indicate that PTA significantly predicted PTSD symptoms and was negatively associated with resilience. Resilience served as a mediator between PTA and PTSD symptoms, while lifetime exposure to PTE exhibited a nuanced moderating effect: Moderate PTE exposure bolstered resilience, while cumulative lifetime exposure diminished resilience, thus increasing vulnerability to more severe PTSD symptoms. The findings underscore limitations of purely individual-centric models and emphasize the importance of contextually and culturally tailored interventions for journalists in high-risk conflict settings." (Abstract) more

"This study analyzes the role of discursive strategies in the politics of self-censorship in Afghanistan, where political pressure, and independent media work together, and language plays a crucial role in implementing these strategies. Critical Discourse Analysis is used to explore the connection b ... etween language use and the exercise of power, focusing specifically on the portrayal of the post-2021 government’s legitimacy. The study analyzes 143 textual news stories and televised interviews collected from two domestic media (Tolo News, Ariana News) and one foreign-state media (Radio Azadi). The findings indicate that domestic media employ juxtaposition and factual discursive strategies to balance the politics of self-censorship when reporting on the legitimacy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, without directly challenging the power structure. In contrast, foreign-state media approach the legitimacy of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan through the lens of critical reporting, using strategic labeling to address critical perspectives and maintain an anti-IEA political stance." (Abstract) more