During the committee’s interaction with various newspaper editors, owners and journalists, they all spoke about the discrimination they, particularly medium and small newspapers/periodicals, faced in the issue of government advertisements and the rates of the state which is one of the lowest in the country. 

The issue of the accreditation of journalists concerns the grass-root journalists.The State’s accreditation committee should consist of the representatives of all the recognized state and national level journalists’ organizations. It has come to the notice of the committee that at present only journalists working in Srinagar or Jammu get state accreditation.

The journalists of the State have been living without any welfare measures for a very long time. Even in cases of death or serious injuries, there is no one to take care of them and they or their families have to face the hardship all by themselves. It is good that the Government has now come out with a policy of creating a journalists’ welfare fund. It should cover all journalists and be implemented without wasting any more time. The fund should be monitored by a committee of journalist organizations.

The committee is really concerned about the stoppage of internet and mobile services in the State. In this age, no media can work without these supports.The policy of curbs on internet and mobile services has to be reviewed urgently.

Recommendations excerpts:

• The Army and Para military forces should also work out a more liberal and transparent information system to give news as soon as possible to local journalists. The Public Relations Departments needs to play a more proactive role in providing information and facilitating coverage during any operations.

• Journalists, too, are doing public service during any coverage and, therefore,their accreditation or Press Cards should be duly honoured during curfew restrictions.
• The gap between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the national media should be bridged. Inter- regional media exchange will promote a better understanding among Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh journalists. Similarly, J&K journalists should be encouraged to visit other parts of the nation and interact with their counterparts there. Journalist teams from other parts of the nation should similarly visit the State to interact with the State’s journalists to understand J&K.

A copy of this report is available courtesy of KashmirLife.