by Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively for VK
Azerbaijan has marked the 137th anniversary of its national press this year. The Akinchi paper was published on July 22, 1975, founded by Hasan bey Zardabi. Azerbaijani press has undergone great changes in the last years, developing and reflecting social processes. A boost to press development was given by Heydar Aliyev in 1998 when he cancelled censorship.
According to the presidential decree of 2010, the 135th anniversary of the national press was marked all over the country. Azerbaijan has about 40 dailies and about 200 weeklies, 9 republican broadcasters, 1 satellite TV channel, 14 regional TV channels, 14 radio channels, up to 40 information portals, about 20 internet radios. Officials sources say that 65% of the population uses the Internet. The number of users of social networks grows every year.
Azerbaijan experienced the tendency of all economically sustainable states, i.e. the development of new media content and Internet. The main source of information today is Internet portals. Azerbaijani papers publish about 5,000-10,000 copies, while their websites have about 50,000 visitors. The government cannot neglect the fact that the development of Internet portals needs more support.
“In the state of rapid development of information and communication technologies, the development of Internet media is unavoidable, as seen in the reduction of traditional media sources. Internet media may gain state support in Azerbaijan in the future. Perhaps, future consideration of the issues in formation of the legislature would have additional attention of the government for Internet media”, as stated by Arastun Mekhtiyev, deputy head of the section for socio-political affairs of the Presidential Administration.
Azerbaijan, as the rest of the world, has many disputes over the role of new media in social and political life, including its influence on conflicts. The benefits of new media are obvious. Even Twitter is becoming a more operative source of information than the best and most notable news agencies. This is why anyone registered in social networks can become a journalist or a reporter. Another advantage of new media is that their objects may vary and exist in an infinite number of versions at the same time. Printed sources and TV compositions are always fixed.
But the role of new information sources is controversial. It is especially dangerous for a state occupied by foreign forces for 20 years. An unprofessional journalist or any other participant giving information may play into the hands of the opposite side. Progress in the development of information technologies has brought up new forms and styles of information presentation. This means that new media staff are not always ready to fulfill professional standards developed and tested throughout the history of journalism. Attraction of followers and swiftness of new media can be more important than the professionalism of presenting information at times. Moreover, information appearing in new media is less precise, because it cannot be checked carefully in the way reporters’ works in papers and TV companies are checked by editors.
Another example of the influence of new media is the role of social networks in the Arab Spring. Back in 2010, the world was surprised to realize the scale and mobilization potential of social networks. The events in the Middle East were the first serious lesson, proving the fact that new media is not only changing the life of individuals, but the country and region as a whole. In the East, where the community mood is clear, social networks and blogs have fully shown their potential, showing the destructive force of unity. The Arab Spring was caused by new internet technologies. The US issued $25 million to support bloggers and Internet activists in authoritarian states.
Doubtlessly, the future Internet will present media of the world and Azerbaijan many new opportunities. The question is how to prevent harm and violation of these opportunities.
