BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 20. The "Media in the Era of Global Transformations: Continuity of Traditions, Principles of Journalism and Public Interests" conference dedicated to the 148th anniversary of the National Press has been held in Baku, Trend reports.
The National Anthem of Azerbaijan was performed at the official opening ceremony of the event, and the memory of the martyrs was honored with a minute of silence.
Chairman of the Press Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashad Majid noted that national leader Heydar Aliyev has always paid great attention Azerbaijani press.
"We have always witnessed the importance that the national leader paid to the press. Journalists have repeatedly met with the national leader. This tradition continues under the leadership of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. President Ilham Aliyev's attention to the press plays a big role in the life of each of us," he said.
Chairman of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ismet Sattarov noted that after Azerbaijan gained independence for the second time, a new era has begun for the national press, which has withstood all the hardships.
"The factor underlying in all the reforms that carried out in the field of media is the service to the state and achievement of media development. Journalists who celebrate their professional holiday at work today and provide information to society play a big role in bringing Azerbaijani realities to the world," he added.
Head of the Department of the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan Natig Mammadli also pointed out that the Media Registry has been functioning since October last year.
"The main goal of the media reforms is to achieve the development of the media. The process under consideration will be permanent," Mammadli said.
The conference was held with the joint organization of the Media Development Agency, the Audiovisual Council and the Press Council of Azerbaijan.
The National Press Day of Azerbaijan is a professional holiday for all those employed in the media field. The day is celebrated in the country annually, on July 22. This holiday is timed to the day of the publication of the first issue of the "Ekinchi" (The Cultivator) newspaper in Baku on July 22, 1875. Founded by a journalist, teacher, and scientist, Hasan bey Zardabi, it was the first newspaper in history to be published exclusively in the Azerbaijani language, and the first newspaper in the Russian Empire to be published in the Azerbaijani language. This newspaper has played an important role in the national awakening of the Azerbaijani people, in strengthening national unity.
