Azerbaijan
Difficult professional and economic conditions, especially for print media, challenge the media sector in Azerbaijan. A variety of media organizations and media outlets exist, however only a few independent newspapers manage to publish newspapers of limited circulation. The national broadcast media are better developed, with more advertisement funds available as most Azeris rely on television for information and entertainment. IMS is working to support the media sector in Azerbaijan by strengthening the professionalism, as well as providing a platform for cross-sectoral media development.Archive
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- Baku web journalism training, 17-28 August 2009
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Going online in Azerbaijan
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In Azerbaijan, the number of bloggers has tripled within a year. For the first time the IMS-funded Azerbaijan Media Center and Council of Europe are organising a training course in Baku on online journalism to help journalists expand their internet audience. Gulnara Akhundova, Azerbaijan Media Center, reports on new media's expansion in Azerbaijan.
Growing culture of debate in Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, interest in new media is rapidly growing and becoming an increasingly preferred source of communication and news over television and newspapers.
The number of bloggers in Azerbaijan has tripled within a year from 8.500 to 25,000 bloggers*. In comparison, Georgia reported a rise of 2000 - 3000 bloggers and Armenia 4000 - 6000 thousand active bloggers.
According to Director Rovshan Bagirov, Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation Media Programs and Public Relations, the data demonstrates a growing interest in the internet and a growing culture of debate embraced by society.
- Our youth is eager for everything which is new. There is also an opinion that the growing number of bloggers is a result of limited freedom of expression. Another opinion is it simply the result of internet development in Azerbaijan, he said.
New media vs. mainstream media in Azerbaijan
While TV is still the leading communication medium across regions of Azerbaijan, the internet’s expansion is becoming a real threat to print and broadcast media.
Azerbaijan Media Center Director Elshad Farzaliyev, with his 8 years in media development thinks that new media is gradually taking over the audience of traditional media.
- More and more people tend to gather news online, he says.
- However, traditional programmes such as formal televised debates still grab the attention of millions of viewers. We are now observing the reshaping of audience profiles’, Farzaliyev noted.
Breaking new ground
IMS-conducted research clearly demonstrates that online reporting is the number one priority on the list of desired journalism training in Azerbaijan.
David Brewer, BBC journalist and online media expert from the organisation Media helping Media will be one of the trainers. When asked about his expectations for the course, he said:
- I have been to Baku before and found the journalists I worked with to be open and full of great ideas, so I am looking forward to the return visit. Whether the training is helpful to the audience depends on two things. First, me listening and getting to know their needs – so there will be lots of interactivity and workshops and secondly, them being open to new ideas and change.
- I will let you know how it goes at the end of the session, but I have never carried out one of these sessions without feeling that we have broken new ground and grown together as a group.
The ten-day web journalism training course in taking place from 17 -28 August 2009 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The course is free and for all active journalists. Click here for more information on how to apply.
Related links: http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org
*Source: Director Rovshan Bagirov, Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation Media Programs and Public Relations
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