Tribal Post

The Challenge

In 2013, there was almost no independent digital journalism covering the Pakistan-Afghanistan tribal border region from a civilian perspective. Mainstream outlets covered the area only when violence erupted - never the everyday realities: governance failures, education gaps, human rights violations, cultural stories. The region was one of the most difficult media environments in the world: limited infrastructure, significant security risks, no institutional media presence, and almost no professional journalism training available locally.

The Strategic Approach

Build independent digital journalism infrastructure from nothing in a conflict zone: Recruit and train local journalists from the communities being covered (they already have access and trust); Develop editorial workflows and safety protocols for conflict-sensitive reporting; Secure competitive grant funding for sustainability; Prioritise training as core mission - equip local talent, do not import it; Cover governance, human rights, education, and culture - not just security.

Implementation & What Was Built

• Independent digital news outlet covering Pak-Afghan border region
• Editorial team: 5 staff reporters, 2 sub-editors
• Field network: 10+ contributors across tribal districts
• Training program: 30+ young journalists from tribal communities trained in reporting, ethics, digital tools
• Editorial standards, contributor guidelines, fact-checking protocols
• 12 exclusive in-depth story packages on governance, human rights, rule of law (9-month grant project)
• Grant management: Internews Small Media Grant (2017)

Measurable Outcomes

Qualitative Impact

• Created employment and skill-building for journalists with no other professional pathways
• Alumni now work with national and international media outlets
• Established editorial standards in a region with no prior independent digital journalism
• Directly informed the leaner, more sustainable model of Aware Pakistan

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