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The Greg McKeown Podcast

338. Navigating Ethics in Afghan Journalism with Saad Mohseni (Part 1)

The Greg McKeown Podcast

Greg McKeown

Education, Business, Self-improvement

4.81.1K Ratings

🗓️ 1 October 2024

⏱️ 25 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Saad Mousseni, the visionary co-founder and executive officer of Mobi Group, shares his remarkable journey from London to Kabul in our latest episode. Born to Afghan parents and having traversed the globe, Saad found himself in the heart of Afghanistan in 2002, where his modest radio station blossomed into the nation's largest media company. Despite the Taliban's return in 2021 and the ensuing restrictive environment, Mobi Group perseveres. Saad's story is not just one of business success but of relentless resilience and the fight to uphold an independent media voice in one of the world's most challenging regions. Episode Summary: We navigate the murky waters of ethical journalism in volatile areas like Afghanistan. From the dilemmas surrounding the coverage of sensitive issues to the broader ramifications of the U.S. withdrawal, our conversation offers a nuanced understanding of the complexities journalists face. Finally, we discuss the humanitarian fallout of the abrupt Afghan withdrawal, emphasizing the ongoing need for engagement to sustain the progress made, especially for women and minorities. Key Takeaways: Ethical Journalism in Volatile Regions: The episode explores the ethical challenges journalists face in regions like Afghanistan, particularly in reporting on sensitive issues such as the treatment of women and minorities, while balancing safety and credibility. Humanitarian Impact of the U.S. Withdrawal: The discussion highlights the severe humanitarian consequences following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and stresses the need for continued international support, especially for women and minorities. Role of Independent Media: Mobi Group’s efforts are crucial for providing information and education in Afghanistan, emphasizing the importance of independent media and their role in employing women and offering educational programs. Notable Quotes: "We must cover every story, no matter how controversial, because otherwise, we lose our credibility. But every decision carries the weight of potential danger." "While edicts from the Taliban are very explicit, their implementation is often vague. One week we are told to continue as before, the next, we are questioned for not abiding by the rules." "Covering sensitive stories is a precarious balance. We must decide how to cover them without compromising safety or credibility, all while under the threat of conflicting directives from authorities." Resources: Saad on X Moby Group's Website Join my weekly newsletter. Learn more about my books and courses. Join The Essentialism Academy. Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Welcome everybody before we get to the podcast itself a reminder to sign up for the one minute

0:07.1

Wednesday newsletter you'll be joining more than 175,000 people you can sign up for it by just going to

0:14.6

Greg McHughan.com forward slash one M w. W and every week you will get one minute

0:21.3

or something close to it of the best thinking to be able to help you design a life

0:29.6

that really matters and to make that as effortless and easy as possible. So go to Greg McHughan.com

0:37.0

forward slash 1MW. Sard Morsenny was born in London to Afghan parents in 1966. He lived in Japan, Australia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan before returning to Kabul in 2002 after the U.S.

0:58.1

invasion.

0:59.1

He's the co-founder, chairman and executive officer of Moby Group, which get this is Afghanistan's largest

1:06.6

media company. I mean if that doesn't create a whole vision of an unusual journey filled and fraught with challenges.

1:16.6

I don't know what else does.

1:18.6

He's brought top-tier news and media content to emerging markets for the last two decades, he was named an

1:25.6

Asia game changer by the Asian society. And this which is a really rare acknowledgement,

1:31.9

accolade, one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

1:37.6

Mosseni serves on board of the International Crisis Group and is a member of the International Advisory Council for the Middle East Institute.

1:45.8

He lives in London and Dubai.

1:48.0

Recently wrote a Washington Post op-ed, which I think we should get right to, but also the author of a book,

1:57.4

Radio Free Afghanistan, a 20-year odyssey for an independent voice in Kabul. So, Sad, welcome to the podcast. Thank you, Greg.

2:33.0

Good to be on.

2:34.0

Can you just tell us your story from the beginning

2:38.0

in a shortened version for anyone who isn't familiar with this remarkable journey that you've been on.

2:46.7

I was son of an Afghan diplomat born in London. My father served in the US and in the UK, Japan, Pakistan.

2:56.0

And we were actually in Japan when the Soviets invaded and we could not go back to Afghanistan.

...

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