On July 17, a conference titled “The Development and Tasks of the Azerbaijani Press,” dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijani national press, was held at the Main Building of ANAS.
The event was organized through the joint initiative of the Presidium of ANAS, the Free Trade Union of ANAS, the Joint Trade Union Committee of Scientific Organizations under the Ministry of Science and Education, the YAP (New Azerbaijan Party) Yasamal District Organization, and the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature.
At the beginning of the event, the participants laid flowers at the busts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev and the founder of the national press, Hasan bey Zardabi and paid tribute to their memory.
The conference was opened with a speech by the President of ANAS, Academician Isa Habibbeyli, who highlighted the difficult and honorable path of our national press, which began with the publication of the first issue of the “Əkinçi” newspaper on July 22, 1875. He spoke about the role of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in the formation of a healthy and professional press in Azerbaijan as well as in ensuring freedom of speech and press. He underlined that in the modern era, the development of our national press is associated with the name of Heydar Aliyev. The Great Leader’s return to power in 1993 opened a new stage in the development history of our press. In 1998, with the abolition of state censorship over the Azerbaijani press by National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the foundation for freedom of speech and press was laid in our country, and this gave a strong impetus to the development of the press. According to him, as a result of a survey conducted among Azerbaijani journalists in March 2002, the selection of Heydar Aliyev as the “Friend of Journalists” was a logical outcome of the outstanding statesman’s attention and care for the development of the media.
“President Ilham Aliyev, just as in all other fields, worthily continues the traditions of the National Leader in his attention to the press,"-said Academician Isa Habibbeyli. He emphasized that within the framework of the large-scale activities of the Head of State in recent years, the Azerbaijani press has ensured its development at the highest level and that during the Patriotic War the media played a significant role in delivering the voice of truth to the world community and in exposing false information. He underlined that the Order by President Ilham Aliyev dated April 25, 2025, on the “Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Azerbaijani National Press” once again confirmed that the development of an independent press is one of the priority areas that remains in the focus of the Head of State. “The celebration of the anniversaries of the Azerbaijani National Press at the state level, the awarding of press workers on the occasion of the jubilee, the conferring of honorary titles to them, as well as the provision of financial assistance to mass media, clearly reflects the care shown by the Head of State for journalism.”-he added.
The head of ANAS said that although the newspaper “Əkinçi,” founded by the prominent enlightener Hasan bey Zardabi, operated for only two years, it gave impetus to the revival of public thought in Azerbaijan, the expansion of national thinking, and the formation process of our national ideology. The authors of “Əkinçi” used one or several pen names or signatures, and unsigned articles by writers such as Aligulu Novruzov, Isa Sultan Shahtakhtinski, Abbas bey Hagverdiyev, Mirza Masum, and others were published in the newspaper.
He also underlined that the Department of Press History and Journalism of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature has, for the first time, prepared for publication the “Molla Nasreddin” encyclopedia. The encyclopedia is extremely valuable and significant as the result of an honorable and responsible task. The Department of Press History and Journalism of the Institute of Literature has transliterated and published press organs such as “Ziyayi-Qafqaziyyə”, “Ziya”, “Kəşkül”, “Bəhlul”, “Arı”, “Mirat”, “Məşəl”, and “Kəlniyyət” into the Latin-script alphabet and with the support of ADA University this year, the journals “Əfkari-mütəəllimin” (school-related, 1919), “Babayi-Əmir” (satirical, 1915–1916), and “Məktəb” (scientific-pedagogical, 1911–1920) were also transliterated. He emphasized that these journals, which have long been inaccessible to the general public due to being written in the old alphabet, are significant both in terms of theoretical knowledge and historical context.
The internet media and social networks have become the main tools for shaping public opinion in any field in the modern era,” said the President of ANAS, noting that the information shared on social networks quickly forms a large public opinion. He stated that social networks are of special importance in helping scientists calculate their own citations, increase the number of citations, and so on.
Academician Isa Habibbeyli pointed out that special attention is given to the organization of public relations work at ANAS, and emphasized that in this direction, the activities of the Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information of the Presidium administration of ANAS stand out. He noted that the department regularly presents information to the public and the world in three languages through the Academy’s website, the “Elm və Həyat” (Science and Life) journal, and the “Elm” (Science) newspaper.
At the end of his speech, Academician Isa Habibbeyli congratulated media representatives on the occasion of National Press Day and wished them success in their important and responsible work.
Then, the Chairman of the YAP Yasamal District Organization, Bakhtiyar Nabiyev, prominent journalist and Head of the Department of National Press History at Baku State University, Professor Jahangir Mammadli, Head of the Department of Press History and Journalism of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature, Professor Vugar Ahmad, Chief Researcher of the same department, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Gulbaniz Babayeva, Head of the Department of Public Relations, Press, and Information of the Presidium administration of ANAS, PhD in Philology, Agahuseyn Shukurov, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ganja Division, Zakir Muradov, Honored Journalist Khalid Niyazov, the wife of Shirmammad Huseynov, Chief Specialist of the Nizami Ganjavi Institute of Literature of ANAS, Ulker Huseynova, Chairman of the Free Trade Union of ANAS, PhD in Political Sciences and Associate Professor Sanan Hasanov, and Head of Department at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences and Associate Professor Khatira Guliyeva delivered speeches at the event. They spoke about the rich heritage of the history of the Azerbaijani press and emphasized that during a time when information and communication technologies are quickly advancing media workers carry even greater responsibility.
At the end, a group of media workers from the Academy were presented with certificates of appreciation from ANAS, as well as honorary diplomas and certificates of appreciation from the YAP Yasamal District Organization, the Free Trade Union of ANAS, and the Divisions of Humanitarian and Social Sciences.
