Taking stock: Info dept cancels declarations of 157 newspapers

31 periodicals removed from provincial media list

PESHAWAR:

The information department has cancelled the declarations of 157 dummy publications across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and has removed 31 newspapers from the provincial media list.

The decision was taken during a scrutiny committee meeting held in the city on Wednesday. The moot was chaired by K-P Information and Public Relations Secretary Abid Majeed.

An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune the step was taken after a detailed scrutiny of records was conducted in compliance with the 2009 advertisement policy and various other legal provisions.

“At least 157 newspapers were reportedly not published anymore,” he said. “As a result, the regional information officers (RIOs) were asked to cancel the declaration of these newspapers.”

The official said 31 newspapers were deemed irregular, casual or had not been received by the department.

“They were removed from the media list,” he added.

A newspaper has to be on the provincial media list to obtain advertisements.

“Now that these newspapers have been removed from the provincial media list, they will stop receiving ads from the provincial government,” said an official of the department, requesting anonymity

On notice

The scrutiny committee has decided to issue notices to 33 newspapers for not fulfilling the criteria set for newspapers.

“In order to remain on the provincial media list and obtain government advertisements, a newspaper in Peshawar should enjoy a circulation of 3,000 copies,” said an official. “In other cities, at least 2,000 copies of the newspaper should be circulated and they must have a minimum of six pages.

According to the official, the 33 newspapers are published regularly but do not fulfil the circulation criteria.

“As a result, they would be sent notices to fulfil the criteria within the next 180 days,” he added.

Implications

According to the official, these newspapers will be given advertisements sparingly for the time being.

“During the next meeting of the committee, we will decide whether they would be put on the provincial media list or removed,” he said. “This will solely depend on whether their circulation improves during this period.”

Streamlining

The official added newspapers must also have valid audit bureau circulation (ABC) certificates issued by the federal ministry of information.

“They should submit copies of these certificates to the provincial information department on a regular basis,” he said.

As per documents available with The Express Tribune, it was also decided during the meeting that the government would request the federal ministry for information to re-examine the ABC certificate of all newspapers on its media list.

“They will have to take into account their circulation figures from the stations where they originate,” an official told The Express Tribune. The department will also issue notices to those newspapers who have not applied for a declaration.

“If they don’t respond within 30 working days, the government will register cases against them,” he said.

According to the official, the money which the government spends on advertisements is to disseminate information to the public.

“Newspapers which can’t deliver your message to the public are therefore not fulfilling the purpose,” a senior government official told The Express Tribune. “The decision to cancel their declarations has been taken as per rules and there is nothing wrong with it. Action should have been taken a long time ago. In fact, this should be done every six months.”

The committee also considered four requests received from new newspapers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2015.