Tokyo, 22 July, /AJMEDIA/
Today is the day of the establishment of the Azerbaijan National Press.
AJMEDIA reports that 150 years ago, on July 22, 1875, the foundation of the Azerbaijan National Press was laid with the start of publication of the “Ekinchi” newspaper by Hasan bey Zardavi, one of the prominent representatives of the enlightenment movement of that time.
“Ekinchi” laid the first foundation stone of a truly national democratic mass newspaper in Azerbaijani language, and with only 56 issues, this newspaper became the mirror of the nation and the standard-bearer of Azerbaijani journalism.
In subsequent years, newspapers and magazines such as “Ziya”, “Kashkul”, “Irshad”, “Molla Nasreddin” published by prominent intellectuals continued the “Ekinchi” traditions. The main goal of these media organizations was to fight against ignorance, injustice, and enlightenment. The Azerbaijani press has traveled a rich and honorable path and has gone through several stages. During the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), the foundations of press freedom and new views on events were laid. The next stage covers the period after the Bolshevik occupation of the ADR. 70 years of the press, which has a 150-year history, are connected with the period of this communist dictatorship. At that time, the Azerbaijani press wrote mainly to highlight current issues. This was because the press was a mouthpiece of Soviet policy and ideology. At that time, it was forbidden to think or write differently.
Since the late 1990s, the Azerbaijani press has entered a new stage of development. This stage is also the period of restoration of the Azerbaijani state and democratic state-building. The great leader Heydar Aliyev, who laid the foundation for this new period of development, has always highly appreciated the influence of the press on society and has implemented consistent measures to strengthen its material and technical base and freedom of speech. During the period of independence, Heydar Aliyev signed the first decree on the press in Azerbaijan.
The great leader has signed more than 10 decrees and orders in total to solve the problems of press organizations. In 1999, the Law “On Mass Media” was adopted, which met international requirements. Censorship was abolished in Azerbaijan by Heydar Aliyev’s decree dated August 6, 1998.
Currently, interest and concern for freedom of speech, press and media in Azerbaijan is at the highest level. President Ilham Aliyev has signed important orders on the development of free media, strengthening the material and technical base of press organizations, and improving the socio-economic conditions of journalists.
In the 44-day Patriotic War that began on September 27, 2020, Azerbaijan won not only on the battlefield, but also in the information war. The circles that regularly waged black campaigns against our country did not stop their dirty deeds during this period. However, despite this, the advantage in the information war was on the side of Azerbaijan, which liberated its historical lands from occupation and fought for truth and justice.
Orders are being signed and decisions are being made on the widespread celebration of the anniversaries of national press organizations in the country, providing one-time assistance to mass media, strengthening social protection of press workers, and awarding honorary titles to journalists.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev continues the traditions of the National Leader in caring for the press, as in all areas. President Ilham Aliyev’s Order “On the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Azerbaijani National Press” dated April 25, 2025, once again confirmed that the development of the independent press is one of the priority areas that the head of state focuses on. The celebration of the anniversaries of the Azerbaijani National Press at the state level, the awarding of press workers on the occasion of the anniversary, the awarding of honorary titles to them, as well as the provision of financial assistance to mass media are indicators of the care shown by the head of state to journalism as a whole.
Vugar Aghayev