Kashmir-based news agency ‘Kashmir News Trust’ or KNT’ has emerged as the most trusted news source.
The news agency rose to prominence during the internet shutdown in 2019 as it was the only operational news agency with almost every newspaper carrying the news stories from Kashmir News Trust.
Popularly known as KNT, the news agency has been operational since 2017.
With not just stories of the capital city, KNT also has been focusing on far-flung areas and other remote places to bring news stories of varied issues and problems in the public domain.
“This has made KNT a voice for the inhabitants of the countryside too,” said a reader.
The newspapers post 2019 carried newsfeed from KNT only, due to the absence of other media outlets from the scene.
“This is perhaps our biggest achievement so far. We have been able to keep a record of the situation in Kashmir after the removal of Article 370. Whenever people go back to the history of Article 370 abrogation, they will see news stories of KNT being prominent on the local newspapers and national news portals,” KNT founder Neyaz Elahi says.
Pertinently, the role of Kashmir News Trust was appreciated by the local newspapers for its comprehensive coverage of almost all the areas of the region.
The Daily Roshni newspaper, which is the valley’s oldest newspaper with over 69 years in existence, even published a news article acknowledging KNT’s role during the tumultuous period of abrogation of semi-special status.
The news agency KNT has thousands of hits on different platforms of social media including facebook, Instagram, youtube, twitter etc. Its FB page alone has over 8 lakh followers.
The news outlet today operates three of its official news websites kashmirnewstrust.com, kashmirnewstrust.in and networkknt.com from its Srinagar based office.
“We foresee a media sector that is both sustainable and successful, in keeping with our values and people-centric objectives. KNT is now identified with authoritative news stories and objective journalism,” says Neyaz.
At present, the news outlet has over 50 working reporters and journalists from all across the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
KNT, as per its founder, aims to work on its vision and mission, to continue to serve the people who need it most.