On this edition of Your Call’s media roundtable, we’ll discuss reports of negotiations between American diplomats and Taliban representatives that could lead to US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan. How are the media covering this development?

Last week, more than 1,000 journalists and staff were laid off from several media outlets, including BuzzFeed and the Huffington Post, which is owned by Verizon. Newspapers also continue to face major cutbacks across the country. What does this mean for local communities and what will it take to maintain a healthy media landscape?

Guests:

Ali Latifi, freelance journalist based in Kabul

Mark Seibel, former national security editor with BuzzFeed

Will Bunch, award-winning journalist, national columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News, and the author of a popular political blog called "Attytood"

 
Web Resources:

Reuters: Foreign troops to quit Afghanistan in 18 months under draft deal: Taliban sources

Wall Street Journal: U.S., Taliban Agree on Key Points in Peace Deal

The Washington Post: Local newspapers have already been gutted. There’s nothing left to cut

The NY Times: In an Afghan District Verging on Collapse: ‘There Are Too Many Men With Guns’

The NY Times: Why the Latest Layoffs Are Devastating to Democracy