Categorization of Newspapers: DIPR seeks update, objections from stakeholders

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 15: To ensure judicious and transparent distribution of advertisements to the newspapers and periodicals in the State, the Government is in the process of categorization of the approved publications in light of the guidelines laid down in Advertisement Policy-2016.

The Government has already constituted an official panel headed by Joint Director Information (Headquarters) for categorization of the newspapers as per the parameters laid down in Govt Order No: ID/A/22/2017 dated: 13-03-2017.

As a first step the newspapers and periodicals empanelled by the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) for release of government advertisements were asked to submit various details like circulation, reach, periodicity, language, infrastructure including professional human resource and other similar parameters to facilitate the DIPR to categorize each publication on the basis of its merits.

After repeated reminders, while most of the approved newspapers have submitted the requisite information in bits and pieces some publications are yet to submit the full details.

The details, as provided by various publications in this regard, to the respective Joint Directors of Information, Kashmir/Jammu, have been uploaded in the Notifications section of the official website of the DIPR at http://www.jkdirinf.in/ to seek updation/objections, if any, from the stakeholders.

The updations/objections can be mailed at advt@jkinformation.co.in & jdinformationjk@gmail.com by 7th October, 2017. No objections would be entertained after the stipulated date and the DIPR would proceed ahead with the categorization of the publications on the basis of the data provided by the newspapers as also on the basis of the data collected by DIPR through various official/independent mechanisms.

The newspapers which fail to submit the requisite information within the prescribed time limit would be treated as de-listed from the list of empanelled newspapers.

Pertinently, 467 newspapers and periodicals including 271 in Jammu and 196 in Kashmir division are presently empanelled with DIPR for release of government advertisements.

The Government has also constituted two separate sub-committees for Kashmir and Jammu divisions to review whether the newspapers and periodicals empanelled by DIPR meet the norms set out in the Advertisement Policy-2016 and recommend delisting of any approved newspaper violating the said Policy.

The sub-committees have been vested with powers to recommend delisting of the approved newspapers and periodicals in light of the Provision 6.1 of the Advertisement Policy-2016, if these publications violate the said policy in any respect.