In June 2026, Kashmiri media organizations are facing severe economic pressures, threatening their survival. Resolutions passed by local newspaper bodies highlight a near-total reliance on government advertising as local businesses struggle. The state leverages this dependence, instantly choking off vital ad revenue for publications that print critical editorials or report on human rights abuses.

For journalists in the Valley, daily life is a labyrinth of navigating new digital policies and signing gag-order bonds. Routine field reporting is now routinely classified as a terror offense, leaving the future of independent journalism in Kashmir looking grim.