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Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed district administrations and police authorities across Jammu and Kashmir to take firm measures against individuals posing as journalists and to ensure that only verified media professionals are recognised by government departments.
Te directions, as per officials in the know-how of things, were issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor in Srinagar. The matter of “fake journalists” reportedly drew serious concern from the administration, especially after being raised during the recent autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
“The Lieutenant Governor made it clear that those misusing the name of journalism must face legal action. He instructed all Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to identify such individuals and take appropriate steps to weed them out,” an official present in the meeting said.
The LG is also learned to have called for the creation of a verified database of accredited and active journalists in every district. He directed that government departments should engage only those media representatives whose credentials are authenticated by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
Further, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that individuals or groups operating Facebook pages, digital news portals, or social media accounts under the guise of journalism must be formally registered and verified by the DIPR. He underscored the need for ensuring accountability of online media platforms and for enforcing adherence to professional ethics and lawful reporting standards.
Officials said the move follows increasing complaints that certain individuals were misusing media identification cards and social media platforms to intimidate public officials or seek undue favours. Several legislators had also voiced concern over the issue in the Assembly and called for a mechanism to regulate such activities.
“The government deeply values the contribution of genuine journalists who uphold the principles of integrity and responsible reporting,” a senior officer said. “However, there will be no tolerance for those tarnishing the image of the media profession.”
Earlier, the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) had instructed all District Information Officers in Kashmir to step up vigilance and take action against individuals masquerading as journalists. (Agencies)
