Director Information and Public Relations, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary today convened a meeting with the representatives of the TV News Channels, FM Radio, Online News Agencies and Online News Portals operating in J&K to firm up the guidelines for empanelment of electronic and online media.The meeting held threadbare deliberations on the draft guidelines framed by the Department of Information for the empanelment of News Channels, FM Radio, Online News Agencies and Online News Portals for release of advertisements and subscription by the Department.Joint Director Information (Headquarters) Abdul Majid Zargar and other officers of the Department were also present at the meeting.Speaking at the meeting, the Director Information said that given the fast growing reach of electronic and online media, the Department of Information has decided to frame a comprehensive policy for empanelment of News Channels, FM Radio, Online News Agencies and Online News Portals for release of advertisements which was till now restricted to only print media.
Dr Shahid said the Department of Information after seeking suggestions and views from the stakeholders across the board in this regard, has framed the draft guidelines which would be fine-tuned after further deliberations with the stakeholders. “Today’s meeting is part of the consultative exercise so that before submitting the draft guidelines to the Government for approval and issuance of formal notification, the grey areas if any are addressed in consultation with the stakeholders,” he said and added that if the need arises the Department is open to hold further consultations with the stakeholders in this regard to put a comprehensive mechanism in place for empanelment of electronic and online media.“We are trying to take all stakeholders on board before finalizing a policy framework in this regard, as it is for the first time that the Department of Information is venturing out into an entirely new area for empanelment, which was otherwise restricted to the traditional print media,” Dr Shahid said. The representatives of News Channels, FM Radio, Online News Agencies and Online News Portals who were present at the meeting put forth various suggestions for the consideration of the DIPR for framing the Empanelment Policy.Pertinently, the Department of Information had put out a public notice on its website last month seeking suggestions and views from the stakeholders regarding framing of guidelines for empanelment of the electronic and online media for advertisements and subscription.