Advice from Ali Hasanov to editors

Problems of distribution of the periodical press in Azerbaijan were discussed last Saturday at a meeting of the Council of heads of some press media and the head of the Public Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Ali Hasanov.

    The meeting was organized within the framework of the Press Council "Dialogue of minister-editor", said the Press Council.

   The editor in chief of the state newspaper Azerbaijan, MP Bakhtiyar Sadigov said the problem of distribution is important not only for opposition and independent media, but also for government press.

    He noted the recent decrease in the points of sale of newspapers. For example, many of the booths that were along the roads were removed. In rural areas newspaper are unavailable.

    "All this affects the financial situation of newspapers, journalism and care of the professional staff. If today's media are unable to give a normal salary to their employees, then this situation will negatively affect the situation of press freedom," Sadigov said.

    The editor of the newspaper Yeni Musavat, Rauf Arifoglu focused on the obstacles to street sales of newspapers. He called for regulating the distribution of advertising and offered to restore the kiosks of private firms in the regions.

    The editor of Azadlig, Rahim Hajiyev called abnormal the situation, when his newspaper, which has one of the largest circulations, is not given ads. He spoke in favor of economic pluralism in the press.

    The editor of Ayna – Zerkalo, Elchin Shikhli said that government agencies do not participate much in the advertising market. The main potential of advertising comes from business. However, due to monopoly in many areas, the oligarchs are not interested in advertising in general. These problems must be solved, said Shikhli.

    The chief editor of Bakinsky Rabochi, Rahman Hajiyev said that this paper’s website attracts a lot of advertising. He explained the lack of advertising in newspapers with the bad spread of the press.

    The head of the Super Market paper Etibar Bagirov called for supporting street vending of newspapers.

    The head of Gaya - a private company for the dissemination of the press, Khanhuseyn Aliyev recalled the elimination of the company's kiosks in the capital and the regions. This adversely affected the sales of newspapers.

    The chief editor of Khalg Gazeti, Hasan Hasanov proposed to establish a legislative norm that 1% of the budget of state organizations should be spent on information and propaganda.

    In turn, Ali Hasanov promised to summarize the requests and send them to the appropriate state agencies. He expressed the view that in the near future, newspaper stands in the subway will be restored.

    With regard to the sale of newspapers in the regions, then, local authorities have different attitudes to this issue. "Some people believe that newsstands are harmful to the general appearance, while others think differently," he said.

    Hasanov noted the possibility of removing provisions on the obligation of state agencies to publish their advertising in the state media from the law. He also noted the possibility of using Turkey's experience in the distribution of announcements and advertisements in the media.

    Throughout the world, newspapers earn more from advertising than from sales and if the Azerbaijani mass media are able to embark on this way, their problems will be solved.

    He also noted the general trend in the world to force the print media out by Internet publications. Hasanov urged the media to keep pace with the times and to improve their Internet resources.

    Following the meeting, it was agreed that the Press Council will summarize the proposals and prepare an appeal to the country's leadership. -06D –