President Aliyev approves new media law
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has approved the law "On media".
The law establishes the organizational, legal, and economic foundations for media activities, as well as the general rules for receiving, preparing, transmitting, producing, and disseminating mass information. The document is divided into nine chapters and 78 clauses.
The new law covers every detail, from increasing journalists' professionalism to resolving their social problems, and will play an important role in eradicating a number of flaws that exist in the media today.
Media Development Agency
The powers of the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency have been expanded by a presidential decree amending the "Charter of the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency".
Under the amendments, the agency's powers were expanded to implement measures provided for by international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party in the event of detecting violations of the requirements of the law "On media" in the activities of media entities located outside of Azerbaijan. If this is not provided for by international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party, the agency is tasked with resolving issues relating to the distribution of foreign print media products in Azerbaijani territory by persons permanently residing outside of Azerbaijan.
"In cases stipulated by the law 'On media,' issue a warning to print and online media entities, file lawsuits to suspend their activities and distribution of their media products, as well as terminate their activities," the amendments stated.
Furthermore, the agency's authority has been expanded to include the following: Providing consent to change the logo of the editorial office of print and online media entered in the media register; annually announcing a list of important events for the coming year, posting it on the official website, and regularly updating it.
Audiovisual Council
Under the presidential decree "On media", dated December 30, 2021, Azerbaijan plans to create an Audiovisual Council and abolish the National Television and Radio Council (NTRC).
Under the decree, the Council is the legal successor of the NTRC, so the latter's obligations and property are transferred to the Audiovisual Council.
NTRC members whose terms of office have not expired continue their activities until the end of the period, and the NTRC apparatus will continue to work until the structure of the Council and the number of its employees are approved.
Media register
According to the decree "On Media," the Media Development Agency must create a media register within six months and work with the State Agency for Citizen Service and Social Innovations to integrate this database into the electronic government information system.
Furthermore, based on the agency's expanded powers, it should issue a certificate to media entities listed in media registers, as well as a journalist's certificate to journalists. If a media subject is removed from the media register, the agency should notify the public via its official website. Furthermore, if a journalist is removed from the media register, the agency should cancel his or her journalistic certificate and post information about it on the agency's official website.
Preferential mortgage
The journalist will be able to obtain a preferential mortgage under the presidential decree "On amendments to the procedure of granting a mortgage loan, including preferential mortgage loans at the expense of the Mortgage and
Credit Guarantee Fund of Azerbaijan".
Persons who are members of young families and have worked as journalists for at least five years and are on the media register, as well as those who are not members of young families and have worked as journalists for at least 15 years and are on the media register, are eligible for a preferential mortgage.