SHILLONG, April 17 � With Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma being blacked out for more than a month by the State media, State Government has launched a weekly newsletter that would deal exclusively with Government-related policies and programmes.
Launching the first edition of the newsletter titled �Megnews,� on Thursday, Information and Public Relations Minister AL Hek said the weekly would bring out information about the government policies and programmes in a comprehensive manner.
Hek further said the timing of the launch has nothing to do with the current controversy between the CM and the media. �The launch of the newsletter is not linked in any way with the issue,� Hek said.
The media in Meghalaya has blacked out all news related to the Chief Minister for calling the media as �publicity houses of terrorist groups� and publishing paid news. The Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association wants the Chief Minister to withdraw his statement.
Director of Information and Public Relations HM Shangpliang said the four-page colour newsletter would be distributed free but the hawkers would charge Rs 2 as their distribution charge.
Information would be collected from the districts and blocks, which would be edited by an in-house group of editors and journalists of the I&PR department, to bring out the weekly. The Government would also launch a web version of the newsletter.
