Srinagar, July 10: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday expressed serious concern over the unchecked growth of digital media platforms, asserting that self-styled journalists on social media are eroding the credibility of mainstream journalism and peddling misinformation.
“Today, anyone with a mobile phone opens a Facebook page and calls himself a journalist. They don’t know the basics—how to write, how to ask questions, or how to report. They simply spread lies,” the Chief Minister said during a podcast with a digital news portal, as per Kashmir Convener.
Drawing a sharp contrast between traditional journalism and the new-age digital media, CM Omar pointed to the unruly scenes at public events. “Earlier, you would see one journalist at a venue. Now you see 15-20, each flashing six logos. With 10 journalists, there are 40 logos, but they can’t even hold them properly, yet they hold press conferences,” he remarked.
In a veiled attack on digital news aggregators and fly-by-night news agencies, the Chief Minister said: “Social media channels have begun projecting themselves as journalists, and outfits with no subscribers call themselves news agencies. But authentic news does not get circulated. We need to find a way out.”
Responding to a question on how his administration decides whom to give media access and interviews, CM Omar said a rigorous screening process is followed. “We look into their credibility, their background, their reach, and their acceptability. We go through their past work and interviews to see if they are sensible. It’s not as if we spot someone on the street and invite them for an interview,” he said.
On the changing nature of media, the Chief Minister observed that while the medium has evolved, the fundamentals of journalism stay the same. “The medium has changed, but the method remains the same,” he said.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come at a time when there is a growing debate over the regulation of digital content and the accountability of non-traditional media platforms in the Union Territory.
Comments are closed.