National press commemorates 140 remarkable years of serving public

By Aynur Karimova, Nigar Orujova - AzerNews 

The great enlightener, patriot, and founder of the country’s first Azerbaijani-language newspaper, Hasan bey Zardabi, once said, "The newspaper should be a mirror of the people."

In today's world, information plays a central role in determining the vital narratives that drive a country.

Azerbaijan celebrates National Press Day every year on July 22. It commemorates the first release of the newspaper Akinchi (The Plowman), printed on this day in 1875, stretching the history of the Azerbaijani press back 140 years.

Founded by Azerbaijani journalist, teacher, scholar, and Moscow University alumnus Hasan Bey Zardabi, Akinchi played a paramount role in the formation and development of Azerbaijani national press.

Akinchi awakened the nation and as a result prompted interest in a number of newspapers, such as Molla Nasreddin, Sherqi-rus, Bakinskiye izvestiya, etc.

Over the years, the Azerbaijani press has become a mirror of public opinion. Today, the press, often described as the fourth estate, contributes to the transparency of many processes in Azerbaijan. So far, the country has registered thousands of media outlets, many of which publish regularly.

In 1998, Azerbaijan's National Leader Heydar Aliyev abolished censorship. This decision gave impetus for the further development of the national press.

Today, Azerbaijan, a democratic state in the South Caucasus region, enjoys a free press atmosphere. There is no licensing requirement to create a media outlet in Azerbaijan. All media outlets are also exempt from the VAT. Each year, financial assistance is allocated to print media to finance their projects and to promote their development.

As in many democratic countries, two important steps toward expanding mass media in Azerbaijan were the adoption of the “Law on Mass Media” and the establishment of the Press Council.

Today, the development of an independent press in Azerbaijan continues, with over 4,500 registered press bodies, most of which are newspapers and magazines, over 30 news agencies, and 44 electronic media outlets.

The seasoned Azerbaijani press is leading in the region and in recent years has segued into online media. Its distinctive feature is that it is often presented in at least three languages – Azerbaijani, Russian and English – with the aim of being accessible to a wide range of audiences.

There are also various online media outlets that present news and information in Arabic, Persian, German, French, and even in Chinese languages to simplify access information resources for all.

Azerbaijan, a country with an extraordinarily high Internet penetration rate, has made a strong bid to expand online media to most of its over 9.6 million population and readers abroad. Thanks to unlimited Internet access, Azerbaijanis from all walks of life are able to get desirable information and read news whenever they wish. Local media is well-cited abroad when covering the region.

Today, Azerbaijani online media serves its society’s every need: there are political newspapers, entertainment websites, cultural sites, sites that provide information on public projects etc. Alongside the official and non-official press, there are many bloggers that cover social life of the country.

Azerbaijan’s national press, possessing rich historical traditions, contributed greatly to the realization of freedom goals, the preservation of moral values, and the founding and development of Azerbaijan as an independent state.

The Azerbaijani government has always provided the press with great attention and care during its years of independence, and enforced consistent measures to develop freedom of speech.