Punjab notifies policy for empanelment of news web channels to publicize policies of state govt

The Punjab Government on Tuesday notified 'The Punjab News Web Channel Policy, 2021' for the empanelment of news web channels.

On official spokesperson of the state government said that it was the need of the hour to optimally utilize these platforms of the modern era to publicize and promote the policies of the Punjab Government.

The news channels which were being run on social media platforms such as Facebook and Youtube would be covered under this policy, he said.

“Mainly, Punjab-specific news channels having 70 per cent of the news from the state of Punjab would be considered for empanelment apart from other terms and conditions of the Policy,” added the spokesperson.

He added that the channels which would be issued government advertisements after empanelment with the Information and Public Relations Department shall display government advertisement only during political interviews or news, daily news bulletins, debates or discussions, special editorial interviews and Punjab-specific news.

The Punjab government already has an advertisement policy for newspapers, satellite TV channels, radio channels and websites. Now this policy has been introduced keeping in view the present trend and wider reach of Facebook and Youtube channels. This would give an extra opportunity to the government for reaching a larger population to spread awareness about the public welfare schemes of the state government.