Punjab Government on Tuesday notified the policy for the empanelment of News Web Channels, namely ‘The Punjab News Web Channel Policy, 2021’.
“It is the need of the hour to optimally utilize these platforms of the modern era to publicize and promote the policies of Punjab Government. News channels, which are being run on the social media platforms of Facebook and YouTube, would be covered under this policy,” said a spokesperson of the Punjab Government.
Mainly Punjab-specific news channels, having 70 percent 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.
The spokesperson said 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.
Punjab Government already has an advertisement policy for the 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,” said the spokesperson.
As per the policy, only the internet-based news channels, permanently engaged in disseminating news at regular intervals daily and verified by YouTube and Facebook platforms, would be covered under the policy.
For empanelment under the policy, the Government would consider the channels owned and operated by registered companies and firms with the State Government or Government of India other than individuals.
Besides, the channel or its owner or partners should not be bankrupt or insolvent; should not have been blacklisted or dis empanelled by any State Government or Government of India for which the applicant has to give a self-declaration.
