An event titled “150 Years of Azerbaijani Media: A Bridge Between Business and Journalism” was held in Baku today, organized by the German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan), APA reports.
The event reviewed the development path of Azerbaijani media, discussed local media infrastructure, and international communication opportunities.
Two panel sessions were organized within the framework of the program with the participation of various government entities, media organizations, as well as business representatives.
Director of APA Media Group Vusala Mahirgizi, who was invited as an honorary guest to the event, spoke at the panel session and talked about the historical development stages of Azerbaijani media, the principles of reliable news production, and the work done by APA in preparing human capital.
She said that Azerbaijani journalism has been experiencing its strongest period of development in the last 30 years.
According to Vusala Mahirgizi, this development is a continuation of the enlightenment movement and press traditions that began in 1875:
“The path laid by Hasan bey Zardabi, Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh, Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, and other classical figures has led us to the pluralism of the Republic period, the press struggle for national identity during the Soviet era, and finally to the strong and efficient media system established after independence.”
Vusala Mahirgizi noted that Azerbaijani media has undergone a significant phase of infrastructural development and centralization over the past 15 years.
“In particular, the lack of dependence on foreign media in information dissemination has been a very important step for our national information security. Foreign media organizations have never become the main source of information within Azerbaijan. This is one of the most important achievements that will be included in the 150-year report of the Azerbaijani media.”
She also emphasized the importance of media outlets maintaining a balance between speed and reliability in delivering information:
“For accurate and timely news coverage, one cannot be satisfied with one source. It is important to verify sources at several stages. But sometimes seconds are crucial to disseminate the news. In such cases, it is also essential to act with empathy without getting carried away by emotions. This is the moral foundation of journalism.”
The head of APA also spoke about the work done to prepare human capital in the media sector. She said that the APA Journalism School, established a year ago, is already holding its second edition:
“The media school teaches practical knowledge, not theory. Experienced journalists teach in this field. Most of the graduates of the first edition are already working in various media outlets. APA itself has hired 6 people.”
Vusala Mahirgizi noted that modern journalism should be adapted to the requirements of the digital age:
“Today, cameramanship has become such an archaic profession. A journalist should be able to shoot videos from the scene, speak, and publish them on social media. We are working on new projects for the development of mobile reporting.”
She emphasized the state’s support for the media sector and said that giving priority to national media organizations strengthens Azerbaijan’s position in the international information space:
“Along with references to transnational media organizations, references to APA and other local news agencies have also increased. This was evident both in the Patriotic War and in subsequent geopolitical processes.”
Finally, she noted that journalism cannot be a 100 percent appreciated profession, because a balanced approach and objectivity are the main principles in this field:
“However, Azerbaijani journalism today has become a system capable of reliability, efficiency, and protecting national interests.”
