SRINAGAR: The President of Press Club of Kashmir, Mohammad Saleem Pandit on Saturday appreciated and endorsed the guidelines issued by the Jammu & Kashmir Information and Public Relations Department, directing all the concerned to keep vigil on the impersonation of the fake uneducated “journalists” to check the blackmail, extortion, coercion of officials, and circulation of unverified and defamatory material against public institutions and officers and also private individuals.
Importantly, the Press Club of Kashmir has already moved the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in a writ of mandamus and sought the direction to the Jammu and Kashmir government to fix graduation as the minimum qualification for journalists and photojournalists and preferably a graduation or PG in Mass Communication.
The Court has admitted the writ and issued notice to the UT government to formalise modalities for fixing qualification for the journalists in Jammu and Kashmir to counter the misuse of the right to express under Article 19 (a), Saleem Pandit said in a statement.
Notably, the president of the Press Club of Kashmir, Pandit is also in receipt of a letter from the Labour Commissioner, seeking the details of all the journalists working with various media houses in the Kashmir valley, to make available their PF details in order to ensure old pension to them after having rendered 20 years of service in the field of journalism.
The president welcomed the Information Department order, which directed all DIOs to exercise heightened vigilance and ensure several measures, including maintaining and regularly updating a verified list of accredited, authorised and bona fide media persons operating within the district, in consultation with the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) and media houses.
“Ensure that press releases, media invites, and official briefings are shared only with verified and recognised journalists or media outlets through email and social media channels. Keep a close watch and immediately report any person or entity misusing media credentials, indulging in coercion, or attempting to malign officials, institutions, or private individuals for personal or financial gain.”
It is heartening to learn that the Press Club demand has been partially met by the issuance of the communique, which instructed DIOs to sensitise local media houses and advise editors to Exercise due diligence while engaging correspondents, freelancers, or stringers in the field, and engage only qualified, credible, and verified correspondents, ensuring issuance of proper verifiable authorisation letters and ID cards.
