IMS launches project to improve media pluralism in Azerbaijan
International Media Support is launching a new project in Azerbaijan to improve professional and ethical standards of the country’s media.
The project “Change in the Air: Monitoring and Promoting Media Pluralism in Azerbaijan” funded by the European Union, will strengthen media monitoring practices in Azerbaijan and enhance advocacy efforts for important changes in the country’s media environment. It is carried out in close collaboration with the three Azerbaijani organizations Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Memo 98 and the Nakhchivan Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center.
The project comes on the heels of the successful Free Airwaves project, previously implemented by IRFS, in cooperation with Memo 98 with funds from the EU. Free Airwaves contributed to the EU’s response to the need for media democratisation in Azerbaijan by assessing and promoting the pluralism of ideas, accuracy, and balance in news reports presented on Azerbaijan’s nationwide TV channels.
In addition to monitoring of media content, Change in Air employs emerging technology to create an overview of media ownership in the country, contributing to improved transparency in the media.
The monitoring of media content aims to give both citizens and journalists a detailed insight into the media coverage in the country.
Emin Huseynov, Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS): info@irfs.org
Rasto Kuzel, Memo 98: kuzel@memo98.sk
Melahet Nasibova, Director of Nakhchivan Democracy and NGO Development Resource Center: malahat.nasib@gmail.com
