Etilaatroz Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting independent journalism on Afghanistan, has appointed media executive William McCarren as Chair of its Board of Directors.
McCarren joins a board that includes founder and President Zaki Daryabi and board member Dr. Habiba Sarabi, former Governor of Bamyan Province and the first woman to hold a gubernatorial position in Afghanistan.
McCarren is the founder of the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club. He previously served as Executive Director of the National Press Club as well as the founder and President of U.S. Newswire LLC. He has a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MA from Brown.
“Bill McCarren was one of the first people I met when I came to the U.S.,” said Zaki Daryabi. “We were new to the country and trying our best just to get settled and try to get back to news operations. Bill had great advice. He helped us network and think about how to structure our business into a foundation. He introduced us to lawyers and accountants who helped us with the process. Bill even helped my brother get a great job. I am glad we have Bill with us as we navigate our new direction forward,” Daryabi said.
Following the collapse of the Afghan Republic in 2021, members of the Etilaatroz team were forced to leave Afghanistan after facing threats, harassment, and violence. In the early days after the Taliban takeover, several journalists were beaten, and the organization was forced to suspend its Kabul newsroom. Today, a core editorial team operates from a newsroom in Silver Spring, Maryland, editing the reports and photos submitted by reporters and photographers who continue their work inside Afghanistan under very difficult circumstances. Etilaatroz remains banned by the Taliban, and working for the organization can lead to severe punishment.
Founded in Kabul, Etilaatroz built a reputation for investigative reporting focused on corruption, governance, and human rights. During its ten-year run in Afghanistan prior to the fall of Kabul, the outlet became one of the country’s leading independent media organizations. That work continues today through its Dari, Pashto, and Uzbek platforms, as well as its English-language publication, KabulNow. The organization has recently converted from a business entity to a nonprofit foundation in the United States and has 501(c)(3) status. Individuals and foundations can support its work.