Etilaatroz Foundation
Etilaatroz Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that supports independent journalism focused on Afghanistan. It sustains the work of Etilaatroz, an investigative newsroom that continues reporting despite the collapse of media freedom and the displacement of journalists.
Through Etilaatroz and its affiliated platforms, including KabulNow and Sanjah, the Foundation supports investigative reporting, fact-based coverage, and fact-checking, ensuring continued access to reliable information about Afghanistan.
Our Mission
Our mission is to sustain independent, fact-based journalism that documents realities, scrutinizes power, and informs the public. We expand access to reliable information, amplify underrepresented voices, and contribute to informed public discourse through reporting that is accurate, independent, and carefully verified.
We believe independent journalism is essential to open and accountable societies. It supports informed decision-making, enables public participation, and helps ensure that those in power remain answerable to the public.
History & Journalism in Exile
Etilaatroz was published in Afghanistan for over nine years and became one of the country’s most respected independent newspapers.
After the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Etilaatroz’s editorial team was forced to leave Afghanistan and continued its work from exile. While its newsroom now operates from outside the country, its reporters and photographers continue reporting inside Afghanistan under severe security and financial constraints.
In January 2026, Etilaatroz Foundation received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3), strengthening its long-term institutional sustainability and its ability to support independent journalism and related public-interest work.
What We Do
- Investigative journalism on governance, corruption, and human rights
- Fact-based reporting on political, social, and economic developments
- Fact-checking through Sanjah to address misinformation
- Training and support for journalists
Why It Matters
Access to reliable information about Afghanistan has sharply declined. Independent journalism remains essential for documenting human rights conditions, examining power, and preserving a factual record of events.
Etilaatroz’s work has been covered by international media and has received international recognition.
Governance & Transparency
Etilaatroz Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to independent journalism, accountable governance, and transparent operations.
Legal Status
• Incorporated in: Washington, DC
• Year of incorporation: 2025
• Legal name: Etilaatroz Foundation
• Tax status: 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization
Governance
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for oversight and strategic direction.
Board of Directors
William C. McCarren
William C. McCarren is a media executive with more than three decades of experience in journalism institutions and communications. He served as Executive Director of the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., for more than fifteen years, where he helped guide the organization through a period of significant change in the global media landscape while strengthening its role as a leading forum for journalism and public dialogue. Earlier in his career, he founded U.S. Newswire, a Washington-based news distribution service established in 1986 and later acquired by PR Newswire. As Board Director of Etilaatroz Foundation, he brings extensive experience in media leadership, institutional development, and support for independent journalism.
Habiba Sarabi
Habiba Sarabi is an Afghan pharmacist, politician, and advocate for women’s rights and education. In 2005, she became the first woman in Afghanistan’s history to serve as a provincial governor when she was appointed Governor of Bamyan Province. She previously served as Afghanistan’s Minister of Women’s Affairs from 2002 to 2004. During the Taliban period in the 1990s, Sarabi worked as an advocate for women’s rights and education, teaching girls and women in refugee camps in Pakistan. She later served as an advisor on women and youth to Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and as Deputy Chair of the Afghanistan High Peace Council. She was also a member of the Afghan government’s peace negotiation team with the Taliban.
Zaki Daryabi
Zaki Daryabi is a journalist and media entrepreneur and the founder of Etilaatroz, one of Afghanistan’s most influential independent news outlets. He established the newspaper in Kabul in 2012, where it became widely known for investigative reporting on governance, corruption, and human rights. Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Daryabi led the relocation of the newsroom abroad to ensure that independent reporting on Afghanistan could continue despite severe restrictions on press freedom. As President of Etilaatroz Foundation, he works to sustain investigative journalism on Afghanistan and to support journalists operating under difficult and often dangerous conditions.