The Jammu and Kashmir government is working on a new media policy to incorporate emerging platforms, including social media and news websites. This initiative comes five years after the 2020 New Media Policy, which faced strong opposition from both media organizations and political parties.
“The formulation of the New Media Policy aims to align with the evolving media landscape and adhere to the standards set by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), Government of India,” Pulwama MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para said n response to a cut motion in the Assembly.
Addressing concerns about the Srinagar Press Club, the government clarified that the club had been operating from a building provided by the Estates Department in Press Enclave, Srinagar. However, due to internal disputes among its members, the building was vacated and is currently occupied by the Jammu & Kashmir Police.
During the Assembly session in Srinagar last November, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had emphasized that his government would not be influenced by social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.
“I write a lot on Twitter, but I do not read anything,” he remarked, assuring the people that the government’s agenda would be determined by them, not by social media users.
The Media Policy of 2020 was introduced to establish a structured approach for government communication during crises such as health emergencies and natural disasters. According to officials, the policy aimed to create a sustained narrative around government initiatives while maintaining journalistic standards in the Union Territory. It also sought to counter misinformation and prevent the misuse of media to disrupt public order or national security. However, media organizations and several political parties in J&K had strongly opposed the policy, calling it restrictive and detrimental to free speech.
