For decades, the media coverage of Kashmir has been shaped by journalists, photographers, researchers, and television channels who came to the region to cover its long-drawn conflict and complicated politics. While these have been vital in presenting and studying the issue, the perspective of the local population, and more specifically Kashmiri women, has not gained much of a platform.
With the current boom in smartphones, social media, YouTube, Instagram, and digital platforms in general, the entire content-creation and information-gathering ecosystem has changed for the better. A woman with a smartphone and an internet connection can become a reporter, photographer, filmmaker, content writer, or journalist and showcase her work and views on the world.
According to the Internet and Mobile Association of India Internet in India report and Kantar’s Internet in India reports, the number of internet users in India has gone beyond the 800-million mark, with smartphones being the primary medium for accessing the internet.
Social media has become a space where anyone can share their voice and reach millions of people without needing any traditional media organisation’s resources and infrastructure. This boom in internet content-creation has had a special impact on Kashmiri women. Instagram and YouTube influencers, video-journalists, and bloggers young women in their early twenties are using social media to show the world Kashmir beyond the valley of conflict and reach hundreds of thousands of people.
Content creation on digital platforms is also an inclusive activity; it enables one to connect with others in one’s primary language. So Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, and English are used as media to reach different audiences.
While local stories are now finding their place in digital media, women reporters are also taking up stories of political, social, and cultural importance in Jammu and Kashmir. Reporters like Hubza, a Kashmiri journalist and author, are known to connect with people on a very personal level. While covering a sensitive topic like Kashmir, this has proved to be an advantage, as one’s perspective on the world can be an important source of information for others.
Azaan Javaid has been a part of digital and traditional journalism for years, switching between the two with every break. He represents the new generation of journalists who are now taking Kashmir’s story to social media. It has been relatively easier for digital journalists to work from home and for women to make space for themselves in this competitive field.
While their male counterparts are reporting on international news, women journalists have been vocal about social issues that demand attention. As the number of journalists, both digital and traditional, increases in Kashmir, so does the number of women in the field, enabling more diverse coverage of the region.
Another wave of young women creators is now using Instagram and YouTube to document their lives and the lives of others. With videos and posts containing everything from local Kashmiri cuisine to music, clothes, and weddings, these young creators are showcasing a different side of Kashmir that is rarely seen in mainstream media.
From political developments to culture
In a country where media outlets have been the primary source of information for most people, international news coverage, especially about places like Kashmir, has played a vital role in informing the public. However, the coverage has mostly focused on conflict, with little to no information about the local culture, cuisine, music, or people.
With local digital creators now spotlighting different aspects of their lives, many are choosing to share their experiences and local stories on social media. A video from a Kashmiri wedding, a feature on a local Srinagar businesswoman, a documentary on handicrafts and Kashmiri embroidery, or photo stories on rural life in Jammu all these are vital in diversifying the discourse on Kashmir and giving it a more rounded outlook.
Women creators and journalists are also vital in this movement, as they document and share their own lives as much as they share the lives of others. With more and more women coming out and telling their stories through digital media, more attention is being paid to the lives of Kashmiri women.
Social media as a newswire for young Kashmiri creators
With millions of people engaging with content created by Kashmiri women on a daily basis, the reach and impact of such content have been remarkable. Smartphone-enabled creators are now able to capture and share their stories, edit them, and share them with a worldwide audience. It has also made media production easier, with a smartphone being sufficient to make a short video piece.
While the low barrier to entry has enabled a boom in content creation and increased consumption, it has also given way to issues such as spreading fake news, unsubstantiated allegations, and the harassment of public figures.
While Kashmiri women content creators face the same challenges as their male counterparts, women are especially threatened by the online space. For women journalists, the same tools that empower them can be weaponised against them. So, fact-checking, due diligence when sharing news, and protecting one’s sources when possible are important steps in combating the problem.
Giving a voice to local stories and local women
Many stories from Kashmir are now reaching a global audience via digital media. From local Kashmiri language stories to those in English, many are sharing the culture, food, music, landscapes, and lives of people from Jammu and Kashmir.
This is especially important for women, as many local issues that are not covered elsewhere can get due attention on social media. A local craftswoman, teacher, painter, or sportsperson can now use digital media to showcase her work and reach a global audience. This creates immense opportunities for women in Kashmir who wish to pursue media and journalism as a career.
More importantly, it gives them a space where their voice matters. Whether it’s an impactful story about women’s rights issues or sharing a light-hearted scoop on local Kashmiri culture, social media empowers women to share their voices on their own terms. While men predominantly hold the majority of journalism and media jobs, women in digital spaces are creating incredible content that shares their unique perspective of the world.
The future of media and news in Kashmir: While the digital boom has enabled many to share their voices, it does not diminish the importance of professional news organisations. Their role in fact-checking, investigative journalism, and representing public interest continues to be relevant. However, social media has enabled more diverse content to be created and shared, coming from different perspectives.
This, in turn, is vital for Kashmir, as it has long been a region of conflict and its media coverage has been dominated by it. While Kashmiri people and the valley’s women have been documenting their experiences, it has largely been on their own terms and through their words. With news outlets and digital media now spotlighting different aspects of the region, many women are now choosing to pursue their voices in media and journalism.
With increased digital literacy and more investment in digital journalism, the future of media in Kashmir is bright. More women entering the field will expand the dialogue on the region, creating new opportunities for diverse stories to be told. With increased investment in digital literacy and women in media spaces, the future looks bright for Kashmiri women journalists and creators.