Azerbaijan celebrates National Press Day

O

n 22 July, the Azerbaijani national press celebrates its 141st anniversary, commemorating the first release of the Akinchi (The Plowman) newspaper.

The press plays a unique and crucial role in the progress of every nation and in the process of awakening a national consciousness. The Azerbaijani national press also has a particular role in the country's public life, thus fulfilling a very important function.

The first national Azerbaijanilanguage newspaper Akinchi which was founded by Azerbaijani journalist, teacher and scholar Hasan Bey Zardabi went to print in 1875. The newspaper which promoted educational and democratic ideas played a paramount role in the formation and development of the Azerbaijani national press. The newspaper flocked around many influential people such as Mirza Fatali Akhundov and Najaf Vezirov who were at the forefront of late nineteenth century Azerbaijani literary development.

Several national newspapers published after Ekinchi further helped to develop Azerbaijani national conscience and identity.

Newspapers like Shergi-Rus (1903-1905), Hayat (1905-1906), Molla Nasreddin (1906-1931), Fuyuzat (1906-1907), Shalale (19131914), Igbal (1912-1915), Dirilik (19141916), Achiq Soz (1915-1918) reflected social and political events in the country, and promoted the thoughts and views of intellectuals. A number of satirical magazines dealt mainly with educational issues as well as raised some issues concerning gender equality.

Molla Nasraddin, the eight-page weekly, satirical magazine which was founded by Jalil Mammadgulizade, also played an invaluable role in the history of the Azerbaijani press. The magazine mainly focused on such issues as corruption, snobbery, ignorance, religious fanaticism, equal rights for women as well as freedom of expression and preservation of national language and traditions using a sense of humour as a weapon against injustice.

Azerbaijani press has played a special role in strengthening the national and spiritual values and preserving the purity of the Azerbaijani language. Having a huge influence on the formation of national selfconsciousness the press also played a huge role in the establishment of the first democratic republic in East and making Azerbaijan the first secular state of the Islamic world as well as the first country in the East that granted women the right to vote.

The Azerbaijani national press gained almost complete freedom after the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Kaspi, İstiqlal, Hurriyyat, Ovragi-nafisa, Azerbaijan and other papers published a wide range of articles on politics, science, education, culture, health and promoted thoughts and ideas of famous intellectuals.

Although following the dissolution of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic the Azerbaijani national press faced a decline, it managed to preserve the traditions established by the early newspapers and magazines.

Since gaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has continuously worked to foster a system of free press. The rights to free speech and free press are protected under the constitution. A Special Fund was established to support the independent press and many newspapers now receive financial assistance from the State.

In 1998, Azerbaijan's National Leader Heydar Aliyev abolished censorship. Anti-censorship decree as well as a variety of other government documents gave a stimulus to the further strengthening of independent mass media in Azerbaijan.

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 Press Council of Azerbaijan was founded on March 15, 2003 with the aim to enforce public oversight of the profession, strengthen the relationship between the government and the press and ensure freedom of press. Bureaus of several media outlets function in foreign countries.

Azerbaijani press which is considered to be a leading in the region is developing steadily. The distinctive feature of the national press is that it is often presented in at least 3 languages –Azerbaijani, Russian and English and is accessible to a wide range of audiences.

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.