Azerbaijani presidential aide: Professional journalists should have privileges

New trends have appeared in the Azerbaijani media, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev said.

He made the remark during the Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," held in Shusha, Trend reports.

"After Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, independent media appeared. Professional journalists should have privileges. A number of challenges also concern the Azerbaijani media. We feel it in everyday life," Hajiyev said.

The presidential aide also said that Shusha is a symbol of courage, freedom and peace of the Azerbaijani people.

According to his words, it is no coincidence that the Forum is held in this city and coincides with this day: "Today, Azerbaijan marks the national press day."

Hajiyev also highlighted the history of the Azerbaijani media and hailed the important role that "Akinchi" played in the formation of public and political opinion and ideas of the Azerbaijani people.

He said that the threats and challenges that await the modern media will be discussed in this intellectual forum.

Hikmat Hajiyev also underlined the threats journalists were facing in the post-war and conflict period.

He said that during the first Karabakh war, the international media gave very little space to the tragedies that Azerbaijan faced: "There was no news about the occupation of Shusha city. The largest massacre on the European continent took place - there was very little information about what happened in Khojaly at that time in the international media," Hikmat Hajiyev added.

The presidential assistant also commemorated all the journalists who performed their profession during the war. He noted that Azerbaijani journalists were killed during the war and after it: "Journalists' safety is important in the war and post-conflict period," he concluded.

The forum, organised by the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, has been attended by 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organisations, and media structures.

Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media.

The forum aims to discuss global issues in the media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics.

During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed.

The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organisations, influential experts in the information and communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan.