The media in Jammu and Kashmir is at a critical juncture. A lot needs to be for the implementation of the Media Policy announced by JK Government in 2020.
The policy must be implemented on urgent basis in letter and in spirit.
Given the current situation, a comprehensive review is the need of hour. The government also needs to look into the mushrooming growth of newspapers and portals.
Exponential Growth
The media has seen an exponential growth in Jammu and Kashmir, both in terms of scale as well as diversity.
The growth of digital, online and social media, the pressure of breaking news, the rush – all these trends made it imperative that the responses of the government keep pace with the demands of the media.
New trends in the media and ever-evolving media platforms also call for changed responses from the government for effective communication and outreach.
In the light of this, a comprehensive review of media policy is required to carry the message of welfare, development and progress to the people in an effective manner.
A continuous attention to the criticism and grievances of the people projected by the media and addressing them is another important endeavour of the government to ensure people’s participation and give them a sense of being a part of the development process.
One more aim of the policy is to ensure the judicious use of the government advertisements, which has undergone more than fifty percent cut during the past three years.
Level The Playing Field
Some of the newspapers are in a very bad position and may have to take their news papers off the print.
In the middle of this some of the newspapers are still enjoying a lion’s share from the government advertisements. These newspapers hardly follow the government directions and SOPs. They are busy with making money and fortunes for their children.
Government and the officers of the department hardly bother about the small news papers who have been doing exceptionally well from the point of view of supporting the govt. policies and decisions.
It is unfortunate that one newspaper owner take uncountable number of advertisements while others continue to suffer like anything.
The requisites of the new media policy 2020 are not being followed on ground and some blue eyed boys of the Government are enjoying.
Government should take strong steps to ensure that newspaper owners follow the new media policy guidelines in letter and spirit so that its benefits reach every nook and corner of the news paper industry in Jammu and Kashmir.
BLURB
Government and the officers of the department hardly bother about the small newspapers who have been doing exceptionally well from the point of view of supporting the government policies and decisions
