Baramulla, June 05: The Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has issued a directive for all media persons in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district to submit authority letters from their respective organisation heads within a period of seven days. The decision as per the department has been taken to “address growing concerns over unethical reporting, fake news, and misinformation”.
The directive comes in response to numerous complaints received by the office regarding the mushrooming growth of “self-styled” journalists, which has led to disturbances in the peace and harmony of the community, the Information Department said.
An official order said the department has received multiple complaints from the general public about “unethical reporting, fake news and misinformation by the citizen journalists” due to the mushrooming growth of “so-called journalists”, thereby disturbing the peace and harmony in the community.
It has come to the notice of this office that individuals resort to citizen journalism and attempt to record the live streaming of accidental deaths and suicidal cases despite a blanket ban on such recordings and reporting, the order said, adding that the DIPR, as mandated by the JK Media Policy 2020, is entrusted with the responsibility of “de-empaneling” any individual or group found disseminating misinformation through social media platforms.
Action will be taken against the reporters involved in unethical practices, spreading fake news, or engaging in anti-national activities, in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Cyber Laws, the department warned.
Quoting the District Information Officer Baramulla, the order further mentioned that to prevent media manipulation and regulate the proliferation of “self-styled journalists”, the office has announced the requirement for media persons in Baramulla district to submit authority letters from their respective organisation heads. “These letters will be utilised to initiate further codal formalities,” it said.
An official said the directive specifically aims to curb the dissemination of misinformation, incitement of violence and violations of accepted norms of public decency and behaviour. Media briefings and advertisements will not be released to any media outlet that engages in such practices, he said.
