Azerbaijan, Baku, 31 January /corr. Trend s.Ilhamgizi / The problem of the Azerbaijani journalism is not journalists' number, but their professionalism, said the Deputy Chief of Public-Political Department of Azerbaijan Presidential Administration, Nazim Isayev, on 31 January at the conference dedicated to the completion of the trainings for journalists, which were made possible through support of the US Embassy.
Financed by the US Department of State and organized by the International Center for Journalists, trainings were held for a number of journalists to develop research journalism in Azerbaijan. The training participants prepared research reports with regards to various spheres. During the conference, diplomas were awarded to the training participants.
Isayev said that progresses were reached in Azerbaijan with regards to freedom of speech. "From this point of view, I assess Azerbaijan as the first state amongst the post-soviet countries. Of course, there are problems with media as well, but it is linked with the formation of the independent journalism," Isayev said.
According to him, there are many mass media sources in Azerbaijan, but number of professional journalists is few. Isayev added that initiated by the Presidential Administration and Press Council, a Program of State Assistance to Media is being devised.
The US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Anne E. Derse, stated that the freedom of press is one of the key principles of democracy and the society has demand for independent journalism researches and commentaries.