Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism

Scenario of Print Media in Jammu & Kashmir (India): An Analytical Study

Abstract

Ramesh Pandita

Purpose: The present study is an attempt to understand the various aspects of periodical publishing in general and newspapers in particular in the state of Jammu & Kashmir India. The study is an analysis of secondary data with the main aim to put forth the actual scenario of the print media industry of Jammu & Kashmir, lasting around five decades viz. for the period 1964-2013. Scope: Although, the scope of the study is limited to the state of Jammu & Kashmir India, but shall prove of great help to understand the scenario of print media at global level, especially in an IT era, which is being ruled by internet in every respect. Methodology/Approach: The study has been undertaken on secondary data, retrieved from the official website of the Registrar of Newspapers for India on October 10, 2013. Aspects like, periodicity, registration distribution, languages covered, district level distribution, year and decade wise growth and registration of newspapers were studied. The study lasts around 1013 registered newspaper titles with RNI, published across the 22 districts of the Jammu & Kashmir state having 12.54 million population, with 68.57% literacy rate. Findings: In terms of periodicity a maximum 44.61% of the total newspapers published in Jammu & Kashmir are weekly and the maximum titles 149 were registered with RNI during the year 2012. Urdu apart from being the official language of the Jammu & Kashmir has also emerged the most popular language by having a maximum share of 40.47% percent of total newspapers published across the state, followed by English with 38.30% share percentage. In terms of population Jammu & Kashmir state has 0.139 average titles to per 1000 literate persons, better by 0.008 titles to national average share of 1000 literate persons. Other observations: Print is still the preferred news media across the globe especially to 65% global population which is still deprived of the technological blessing in the form of internet. Print news media is bound to grow stronger both in terms of readership and business and internet is no immediate threat to it.