A report compiled by the Press Council of India (PCI) on the media in Jammu and Kashmir has pointed out that “competing narratives in Kashmir and the rest of India was throwing up big challenges for the local media”.
“Journalists have to make difficult decisions in different areas from field coverage to newsroom decisions to editorial policy because of different political and militaristic narratives as also militants’ pull and pressures,” said the report released by PCI Chairman Justice C.K. Prasad.
‘No unhealthy funding’
Underlining that the media in J&K had witnessed a “high growth” in the past two decades, the report, titled “Examining the report of the interlocutors on media and media scenario in J&K”, said the government “could not provide any evidence of unhealthy sources of funding to media organisations”.
“There is no major complaint about such funding of newspapers now, but there are such suspicions because of ‘anti-Centre or anti-armed forces writings’ by some newspapers and journalists,” it said.
The report observed that the Union and the State governments “at times use situation to their advantage by arm-twisting the media without legitimate reasons”.
The report, compiled by a PCI sub-committee, also noted with concern the State government’s “no movement” orders issued against journalists and non-recognition of curfew passes.
“The committee is really concerned about the stoppage of mobile and Internet services,” it said and urged the Army and paramilitary forces “to work out a more liberal and transparent information system.”
Calling on “private TV channels to project correct and unbiased understanding of Kashmir in the world,” the report said: “The gap between J&K and the rest of the national media should be bridged.”
