BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 11. Preventing information pollution and enhancing the professionalism of Azerbaijani media are ranking among the crucial challenges of the present day, Executive Director of the Azerbaijani Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov said, Trend reports.
He made the remark at the conference "New Trends in Modern Media: Information Security and Professionalism Criteria" in Baku today.
According to him, the initiative of the Azerbaijani Press Council to hold an event on such a relevant topic deserves attention.
"Today, we have gathered to discuss issues that are crucial for the socio-political life of our country, including in the media sector. We see this conference as a continuation of important media messages that resonated worldwide from Shusha, while maintaining focus on the topics stemming from the productive discussions of the II Shusha Global Forum held three months ago," said Ismayilov.
He pointed out that, thanks to the political will of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, censorship was abolished in independent Azerbaijan in 1998.
"President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, successfully continuing the policies and traditions of the Great Leader Heydar Aliyev in accordance with modern requirements, highly values the role of media in society and has identified creating favorable conditions for the development of democratic, independent media as a priority direction of state policy," he emphasized.
Ismayilov also underscored that the decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on "Deepening Reforms in the Media Sector of Azerbaijan" lays the foundation for a new stage in media development.
"The establishment of the Media Development Agency should also be viewed as part of the process being implemented in this direction. The agency's charter reflects a broad range of activities. It works to improve the operations of media entities, enhance the professionalism and accountability of journalists, strengthen their social protection, train specialists in the media field, organize additional education, and increase media literacy in society.
The aim of the media law signed by President Ilham Aliyev in February 2022, regarded as a 'roadmap' for media reforms in Azerbaijan, is to ensure the security of Azerbaijan's information space, stimulate the development of local media, enhance the competitiveness of the information environment, and create conditions to elevate the prestige of the journalism profession.
Overall, promoting media activities that provide objective and professional information to society, realizing the right to accurate information as a fundamental right, and enhancing mutual trust between the public and media are key state objectives," he added.
Besides, Ismayilov noted that media reforms have yielded significant results in achieving these goals.
He particularly emphasized the importance of the Shusha Global Media Forum, which has become a tradition.
According to the official, the forum, held for the first time in 2023 under the theme "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution", featured in-depth discussions on the role of traditional media and its future directions.
The 2024 forum addressed the relevant topics of media, as well as socio-political and information security, under the theme "Unmasking False Narratives: Combating Disinformation", he reminded.
"At the forum, officials from various countries, media and civil society representatives, and experts widely discussed the role of media in the climate movement to form a comprehensive understanding of disinformation in today's world, analyze its widespread negative impacts, and identify the most effective solutions in combating it, as well as policies and initiatives for building a more resilient society against disinformation.
The panel sessions discussed implementing innovative methods and exploring proactive strategies to address the challenges posed by disinformation in the digital age, as well as building and strengthening cooperative relationships in this area," Ismayilov mentioned.
The agency chairman pointed out that the participation of the President of Azerbaijan in global media forums in Shusha and his responses to numerous questions from media representatives are important not only for conveying our state's just voice to the world but also as a unique manifestation of attention and care for the media, whose primary task is to provide society with objective and impartial information.
"In his speeches, President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly emphasized the beginning of a new era in the history of our statehood, highlighting that a strong Azerbaijan has always been our goal. The head of state underscores that one of the primary goals facing the government in the coming years is to further strengthen our Army and the Armed Forces, as well as to restore Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, which will serve as a new foundation for economic development.
President Ilham Aliyev, at the inauguration ceremony, noted the solidarity of our people as the foundation of our successes, referring to civic solidarity, unity between the people and the government, and the future prospects of the ideology of Azerbaijanism.
The statements of President Ilham Aliyev are a main priority and a source of references for the activities of the media, which plays an important role in providing society with meaningful information. I am confident that the ideas presented at today's conference will make a significant contribution to the professional activities of the media due to their social relevance and significance," added Ismayilov.
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