'Circulating fake news for own interests': J&K's Kupwara bans 'unauthorised' mediapersons from reporting

Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara administration has banned the operation of “unauthorised and unregistered media persons" citing the "misuse" of social media platforms by "circulating fake and baseless news items for their own interests", the Kashmir Walla reported today.

The order was dated July 24 and addressed to the district's senior superintendent of police. It said the "misuse" had become a "nuisance" and "needs to be curbed and regulated".

The order said "all unauthorised and unregistered media persons" must "be refrained from any media coverage until they complete their registration or obtain approval from the concerned regulatory authority".

Kashmir Walla reported: "The order has come at a time when there is no such policy that allows media persons to register themselves with any regulatory authority other than registered newspapers...However, in Jammu and Kashmir hundreds of media persons are associated with online news portals and websites that do not have registration of Registered Newspapers of India (RNI), an only attached office of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that however does not register online news portals and websites."

The report added that today, on the direction of the district development commissioner, the Kupwara district information office asked mediapersons in the district to "share personal and professional details". The office also sought information on whether the mediaperson in question had a degree in journalism or mass communication, their salary details from the past three months, details of their social media accounts, and whether they are accredited or not.