AJA says small and medium newspapers are vital for grassroots communication and deserve a fair share of the government advertising budget.
New Delhi: Seeking greater fairness in the allocation of government advertisements, the Accredited Journalists Association (AJA) has urged Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to ensure adequate representation for small and medium newspapers. The Association emphasized that such publications serve as an important channel for communicating government initiatives, policies, and awareness campaigns to local communities and should be provided equal opportunities in the advertisement distribution process.
The Association said that these newspapers play an important role in spreading information about government schemes, policies, and public awareness campaigns, especially in local and rural areas. Therefore, they should be given equal opportunities in the government advertisement distribution process.
AJA has also appealed to the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) to make the advertisement allocation system more transparent and fair. The Association suggested that a suitable portion of the government advertising budget should be reserved for small and medium publications.
Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi, President of AJA and Editor of Rashtra Times, said that small and medium newspapers are important for strengthening democracy as they highlight local issues and connect people with government initiatives. He stressed that these publications should not be overlooked when government advertisements are distributed.
He added that rising printing and distribution costs have made it difficult for many smaller newspapers to survive. Fair distribution of government advertisements would provide financial support to these publications and help maintain a diverse and independent media landscape.
Chaturvedi further said that small and medium newspapers are a major source of information in many remote and regional areas. He urged the government to recognize their contribution and ensure they receive adequate opportunities in advertisement allocation.
The Association has appealed to Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take necessary steps to protect the interests of small and medium newspapers and ensure a transparent, balanced, and inclusive advertisement distribution system.
