Editorial …..
Since its inception, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been viewed as a war far apart from Jammu and Kashmir, and many people have remained unconcerned despite the tragic loss of human lives, property destruction, and hundreds of thousands being displaced. Those who follow the politics and economics of the Russia-Ukraine issue, particularly in the media, are well aware of the negative consequences.
The newspaper sector in India has been severely impacted by the war, and it is bracing for a major setback as it struggles with newsprint supply and growing costs. Russia accounts for almost 45 percent of Indian newsprint imports, according to the Times of India.
The COVID-19-induced shutdown had a tremendous impact on the newspaper industry, and it was slammed by another crisis before it had a chance to recover. India gets the majority of its newsprint paper from Russia, according to information provided by Volza Grow Global. With 145 customers, India is the most important import market for newspaper paper, accounting for 8,568 shipments. “These figures are current as of March 19, 2022,” according to the data, “and are based on Volza’s India Import data of newsprint paper sourced from 70 countries export-import shipments with names of buyers, suppliers, and top decision makers’ contact information such as phone, email, and LinkedIn profiles.” Along with the war, rising fuel prices, and other commodities, newsprint prices are also rising, and are projected to continue to rise. Experts believe that the uncertainty of foreign exchange markets will drive newspaper prices even higher.
The Russian-Ukraine situation has hit the newspaper sector at a critical juncture, with the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, and a slow economy all adding to the industry’s hardships. Newspapers all around the world have been struggling to preserve its operational parts operational for more than two years. Many people have been compelled to close their businesses or reduce their human power. Under these harsh conditions, the pressure to survive and keep the oldest industry alive has reached a breaking point.
Unless there is government intervention, both from the Centre and J&K UT, in some form of the much-needed relief, the newspapers will be left staring at very large bills, mounting losses or more closures of newspapers.
The publishers and editors of Jammu and Kashmir newspapers are already under a lot of stress as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and they need a stimulus package to survive. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir must analyze the impact of the epidemic and the present Russian-Ukraine war on the newspaper industry in the UT of J&K and intervene constructively in support of democracy’s fourth pillar.
Furthermore, in the context of the newspaper industry’s survival crisis, government support in the form of advertisements is the sole ray of light for newspaper owners/editors. We also expect that the government of Jammu and Kashmir will step forward and hold empanelment meetings for at least small non-empanelled publications that have already completed their eligibility period and submitted the required papers to the office for approval as soon as convenient.