#JournalismIsNotACrime: Kashmir media stands united to defeat ill designs, say journalists’ bodies after viral ‘hit list’

Srinagar: Kashmir journalists including editors and reporters – who have been associated with the blood-soaked Srinagar dateline for last three decades, have regretted the continued vilification of individuals representing the institution of media. It has become a routine for diverse elements across all the political and ideological thoughts to pass judgment on the Kashmir media and eventually, make it the punching bag to suit their ends.

In a joint statement, journalist bodies said that media in Kashmir has been struggling to survive as an institution of public service for most of its recorded existence. While retaining its status, it has paid a heavy price to stay neutral to the politics and objective to the facts, a rare trait that hardly is being exhibited by media while covering their own conflict. For countless reasons, the media in Kashmir is on the edge and the stakeholders are doing their utmost to bring in some stability to this key public service institution. 

“Kashmir journalists across the groupings and the status they hold in their respective organisations have, once again, felt pained over the unwarranted propaganda, aimed at bringing a bad name to individuals and institutions for no apparent reasons or justification. This propaganda is being deliberately peddled to gossip-hungry social media so that reputations of the professionals are sacrificed for the political ends of the virtual rumour mongers. This propaganda, however, adds to the vulnerability of the media,” a joint statement by Kashmir Editors Guild, Jammu and Kashmir Editors Forum, Kashmir Press Association, Kashmir Press Club, Kashmir Working Journalists Association, Jammu and Kashmir Working Journalists Association, Kashmir National Television Journalist Association and Kashmir Journalists Corps said.

See more

Once again the blog backed by Pakistan Terror outfit LeT / TRF released the threat list of Media Persons and Activists from Kashmir.

The same blog wrote against Shujaat Bukhari and Babar Qadari after that they were killed. I hope authorities will take a note. pic.twitter.com/xhn2OT7l7F

— Al iskandar (@TheSkandar) October 1, 2020

The media in Kashmir has always grown stronger by the assaults from here and there. The vilification may massage the ego of the people behind these shameful acts but it eventually hurts Kashmir, the statement added.

“Media groups take this opportunity to reiterate the larger reality that media has been covering Kashmir with utmost responsibility and objectivity, something that Kashmir media is proud of. It will continue doing so. An objective media is in everybody’s interest. Kashmir media stands united to defeat the ill designs of such elements,” the statement mentioned.

 

Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join.