Press Council of India Team Visits Kashmir, Engages with Media Owners and Editors

A four-member team from the Press Council of India recently concluded a two-day visit to Kashmir, where they engaged with newspaper owners, editors, and media personnel.

During their visit, the team meticulously reviewed the current challenges faced by newspapers in Kashmir, including issues related to advertisement distribution, long-pending in-penalment meetings, and the dissemination of official news in Urdu by the Information and Public Relations Department of Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation, comprising Girinder Singh (Convener), Sham Pannu, Gaurav Kharay, and Aarti Tripathi, held meetings with representatives from various media organizations and the Information and Public Relations Department. At the Circuit House in Srinagar, the team also met with a delegation led by Raja Mohiuddin, editor of the Kashmir Press Service Media Group.

During this interaction, Mohiuddin highlighted concerns such as fair advertisement distribution, stalled in-penalment meetings, and the perceived disparity against smaller newspapers in Kashmir.

The PCI team attentively listened to these concerns and assured the stakeholders that all issues would be brought before the Press Council of India Chairperson in New Delhi.

They committed to submitting a comprehensive report and issuing directives to the Department of Information and Public Relations upon their return. Furthermore, the team pledged biannual visits to Kashmir to address ongoing media challenges, encouraging stakeholders to submit their grievances in writing.

The delegation also urged media owners and editors to actively promote government policies and welfare initiatives through their publications. Responding positively, stakeholders appreciated the PCI team's visit, emphasizing the importance of their engagement with local media issues.

Additionally, they requested the inclusion of advertisements for government development projects and visits by dignitaries like Prime Minister Narendra Modi in local newspapers, thanking Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha for his support.

The Press Council of India's visit was seen as a constructive step towards addressing longstanding concerns within the Kashmiri media community, fostering dialogue and collaboration for future improvements."