Hopes for a promising future for media in Azerbaijan
In the country set to host next year’s Eurovision, Azerbaijan’s young journalists, activists and bloggers look to the future with optimism
By Andreas Sugar, IMS
“Perhaps things will change with the Eurovision,” is a sentence one hears often these days in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Since the country won the European popular song contest in May, which entails that it will host next year’s event, there has been widespread hope that the prospect of thousands of foreign visitors may lead to social and political reforms in Azerbaijan.
Creativity and enthusiasm despite difficult obstacles
Although independent newspapers and other media outlets exist, many journalists are facing a number of professional and economic challenges in their everyday work. Some are living in fear of threats and harassment, while others have been jailed for extended periods. Most are surviving on extremely low wages in this oil-rich country where life is costly and social differences are vast.
It is in this difficult environment that aspiring Azeri activists and media workers are trying to launch their careers. Despite the obstacles, however, the group of young journalists that met with IMS during a recent visit to Azerbaijan were both enthusiastic and full of ideas. Savvy in ICT and multi-media, the journalists are making creative use of new media to set up their own outlets.
Combining new and old media to provide balanced news
Azer Nazarov is producing impartial, issue-led radio programmes for his own website. In the coming months, he will be leading an IMS-sponsored training programme in online radio journalism for 24 participants. Khanim Javadova is the co-editor-in-chief of the online English-language newspaper Baku Post, which was founded just a few months ago. The mission of Baku Post is to provide “balanced, operative, objective and reliable news from professional journalists.” Vugar Safarov is the director of the Mobile Media Union; a network of creative youth aimed at sharing their skills in filmmaking, design, PR, new media and information technologies with civil society.
While these young people have made new media their primary platform, they stressed the importance of traditional journalistic skills and methods. They are therefore very interested in how to combine the old with the new. “I am really trying to adapt the use of old media to the world of new media – that is what my radio project is about,” Azer Nazarov told IMS during the discussion at the Azerbaijan Media Centre.
The greatest challenge of these reporters is obtaining the views of ordinary Azeris. “It is hard to get people to talk, for example if you want to interview them on the Boulevard,” said Azer, referring to the seaside boardwalk in Baku. The reluctance of people to talk to journalists in public places is believed to be a side effect of a year-old amendment to the existing media law, which stipulates that individuals cannot be photographed, filmed or have their voices recorded without prior permission.
Young journalists and bloggers a driving force for the future
A few hours’ drive northwest of Baku, in the beautiful mountain town of Sheki, IMS met with a group of high-school bloggers; an even younger generation of new media users. Their blogs were similar to those of 16-year-olds anywhere else in the world, reflecting the concerns and interests of the average teenager: music, friendship, food, computer games. Some of them, however, revealed a sincere interest in social issues and aspired to become professional journalists. Azer had recently carried out a survey starting an online debate on the feasibility of friendships between boys and girls. Farid had just written a post about an old man who had retired after a successful career in public service, only to find himself struggling to survive on 75 AZN (66 Euro) a month.
The coming year will show if the Eurovision will bring any change. In the meantime, Azerbaijan’s young journalists and bloggers will do whatever they can to disseminate news and views and encourage public debate in their country.
