Journalism in Kashmir has entered an extremely crucial phase due to the last 35 days of turbulence. Most of us have crumbled under fear or taken sides or toed lines of convenience and expediency or turned activists or gone into hibernation. Many of us have been attacked and humiliated on streets and at hospitals. Vehicles of many of us have been damaged extensively. Even appeals from top separatist leaders are not working. Sales and circulation of Srinagar-based newspapers have dropped drastically and consequently the private advertisement volume of all newspapers has shrunk to a trickle. We are told that no newspaper in Srinagar has been able to pay the salary of the month of July to its reporters, sub editors and other employees till August 12. Editors are reportedly weighing options between closing down their newspapers permanently, terminating jobs or slashing the salaries by 50%.
Dying Media in Kashmir
