Journalists at the Azerbaijan Media Centre celebrate the 135 Azeri media anniversary. Photo: AMC

On the eve of 135th Anniversary of Azeri media and before upcoming legislative elections, IMS’s Gulnara Akhundova reports from Baku, where summer turned into a series of celebration events in honour of Azeri media

By Gulnara Akhundova, IMS Baku

21 July 2010 The Azerbaijan Media Center’s (AMC) conference room is bustling as the country’s journalists, civil society and international community representatives prepare to discuss challenges, opportunities and prospectives for Azeri media .

The event is kicked off with an unusual welcome address for the anniversary celebration — a mixture of irony, hope and criticism characterises the speakers. Then a reception with the guests sharing their impressions of what happened within the month in the media community—and gifts and awards for journalists are in focus. Depending on the mission, some agencies grant monetary prizes for journalists, others present assets such as a computer or mobile telephone.

Azeri media anniversary

This is the celebration of the 135^th anniversary of Azeri media and the founding of the country's first independent newspaper  hosted in the IMS-supported Media Center, based on the year that the first independent newspaper was founded in Azerbaijan. On the one hand, it's just another event similar to those generated by a government decree to mark this date - but on the other hand it is also a signal for journalists not to rest on the laurels, but to get to work and address challenges and problems.

Study tour to Sweden for Azeri media

My colleague is surrounded by journalists who are all impatient to learn details about the study tour to Sweden which a group of Azeri journalists will be making under the leadership of the AMC.

The study tour to Sweden , where parliamentary elections will take place in September this year, came about as a result of requests and comments made by Azeri journalists. For a majority of the journalists, the Azerbaijan Media Center is a ‘window to Europe’. They expect the AMC to open up opportunities for them to explore European practice as well as to meet with journalists who live and work in EU countries.

When I was in Copenhagen last winter I met a Danish MP at the entrance of the House Parliament. He was about to go home. It was snowing hard and already quite late this fact did not prevent him and I from talking for half an hour about media and democracy. We shook hands, and then he left and took his bus. I thought with some irony: "Gosh, where is his luxury car?" I wished I could share this moment with Azeri journalists who have to wait weeks to be appointed an interview with some local MPs.

Sharpening election reporting skills

Azerbaijan is on its way to parliamentary elections in the fall. The role of the media in the democratic process in undeniable. As usual, media coverage of the elections is a priority for democracy advocates. As always, both general public and civil society expect a lot from the media before elections.

That is why I am confident that the Azerbaijan Media Center is on the right path when I announce the AMC's gift to the media in the shape of a study tour to Stockholm. Here, a group of Azeri journalists will meet with their colleagues and Swedish politicians and will  sharpen their skills in the political and elections reporting.

The celebration event is over. When the last guest leaves the centre my colleagues tell me the journalists looked happy with the Media center’s gift in the shape of a study trip. This is a unique and unusual birthday gift which will bring returns in the shape of more accurate and balanced election reports.

Happy birthday, Azeri media!