“We Have to Find a Solution”: CM Omar Abdullah Raises Concern Over Rise of Self-Styled Journalists
Calls for Credibility in Journalism, Flags Rise of Unverified Social Media Channels; Says Anyone With a Mobile Phone Cannot Become a Journalist Overnight; Stresses Background Checks Before Giving Interviews
Srinagar, July 12: The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed concern over the growing number of unverified social media channels and self-styled journalists, saying credibility and professional standards in journalism must be protected in the era of digital media.
Speaking in an interview with news portal News Insider, as per news agency JKNS, CM Omar said that the media landscape has changed significantly, where many people start social media pages and immediately call themselves journalists.
“Today, the reality is, if someone gets a mobile phone, opens a page on Facebook, and calls themselves a journalist. If you ask them about journalism, they may not know how to write. They don’t know how to ask questions. They don’t know how to report. They only spread lies,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that while there may be only a handful of actual journalists at an event, the number of microphones often far exceeds them.
“Today, you will find 10 journalists, but 40 mics. They can’t even hold their mics properly, but they start doing press conferences. Social media channels have started calling themselves journalists. Agencies call themselves news agencies, but the right news doesn’t circulate,” he said.
Omar Abdullah stressed the need to find a solution to the growing problem of misinformation and unverified reporting.
“We have to find a solution to this,” he said.
The Chief Minister further said that his office does not entertain every request for interviews without verification.
“If we see someone on the street asking for an interview, we don’t simply call them. We first look at their background. We look at their reach. Do they really have reach and acceptability? We see their old interviews and work. Are they smart?” he said.
He said that although media platforms have changed, the principles of journalism remain the same.
“The medium has changed. The method is the same,” Omar Abdullah added.
The Chief Minister’s remarks come amid the rapid expansion of digital and social media platforms, where numerous individuals and online pages have emerged claiming to be journalists or news agencies without formal journalistic training or established editorial standards.
The issue has increasingly sparked debate over misinformation, fake news, and the need to maintain credibility and professionalism in journalism in the digital age.
Earlier, during the Assembly session held in Jammu on February 12, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir Government had clarified that the regulation of websites, digital platforms, online news portals and private Fact-Checking Units (FCUs) does not fall under its jurisdiction, nor does it have the authority to impose fines for spreading fake news.
The government had further stated that no private FCUs are recognised or authorised by the Information Department in the Union Territory. However, it had informed the House that the Draft New Media Policy-2026, which proposes regulation of social media along with print media, was under inter-departmental consultation.
During Question Hour, concerns were raised over defamatory content targeting legislators on social media. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather had assured the House that a dedicated discussion would be held on the issue, describing it as “extremely important.”
He had acknowledged that demands for such a discussion were coming from both sides of the House and said, “We will hold a half-hour or one-hour discussion on this matter during this session.”
At the time, Minister Sakeena Itoo had termed the issue “a matter of grave concern for every member,” stating that “fake media and Facebook media have gone beyond control” in Jammu and Kashmir.
She had further remarked, “We are ourselves responsible. We ourselves malign each other’s dignity.”
Mainstream media organisations and publications in Jammu and Kashmir have also repeatedly expressed concern over the rapid rise of ill-trained, unprofessional, self-styled journalists, whose reporting practices have been described as deeply worrying, particularly in a sensitive security environment like Jammu and Kashmir.
The unchecked proliferation of untrained “Facebook journalists” in the Kashmir Valley has also been flagged as a serious concern due to the absence of professional standards in reporting on sensitive issues. (JKNS)