Comm101: Media Report

COMM101: Media Report

Azerbaijan

Abstract

Azerbaijan is one of the major controversial countries when it comes to its media. Being a Soviet Union country in the earlier times, it had strict restrictions on media as it was controlled by the Union and the State. Different Media outlets such as televisions, radio channels, newspaper publishing and more were all controlled under strict supervision which led to the country citizens to secretly publishing and releasing the material to leak out information that was forbidden. However, after receiving the independence, the Media had received some freedom under the movement of Freedom of Press to have the liberty to publish media as they pleased but the change of decree has revived the old restrictions, putting Azerbaijan’s media in the same place as before.

Table of Content

1. Background
2. Media & State Government
3. Media Outlet
4. Ownership & Funding
5. Content Filtering
6. Media Literacy
7. Pluralism in Media
8. Access of Media
9. Conclusion

Background

Placed by the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is the residence for an enormous population of Shia Muslims of Turkish origin. Azerbaijan has a diverse manufacturing base, with a principal industry - manufacturing & engineering. Being a part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, the considerable economic advancement, urbanization, and industrialization were experienced by it. (Curtis, 2014) Though education in Azerbaijan was marketed and the Nationals have been positioned in positions of strength, the republic was tightly controlled by Moscow.

Media of Azerbaijan is both for-profit and state-owned corporations that rely on marketing, subscription, along with other sales related revenues. (Trend News, 2017) The Constitution of Azerbaijan promises independence of speech as Azerbaijani people have struggled a great deal to have their national press freedom, primarily because the cultural correlations between states grew considerably in correspondence with federal and economic connections within the 20th century. The very first tv broadcasting in Azerbaijan dates back to1956. At present, this television has been named the Azerbaijan State Television as well as Radio Broadcasting Committee and are run under the State commission.

Media & State Government

Rules about the modernization of the media and printed media, overall, were adopted by Azerbaijan authorities throughout the first time. Together with the brand-new rule followed in 1919, the establishment of media, along with other comparable foundations, started to be free. The newly established government delivered a decree in 1918, prohibiting the government influence of mass media. The primary representations of the media of the moment are Istiqlal, and Molla Nasiruddin that had been the forerunners of nationalist ideas. Freedom of speech, press, and idea was at the highest. Most media in the Soviet Union was managed by the state like radio and television broadcasting, magazine, newspaper, and publishing. (Kaganovsky & Salazkina, 2014) This was attained by state ownership of all manufacturing facilities, therefore making all of those used in media state employees. This extended to the fine arts like the theater, opera, and ballet. Music and art have been managed by ownership of distribution and performance venues.

The mass destruction of foreign and pre-revolutionary books and journals from libraries was implemented by the Soviet government. Spetskhran also referred to as a unique collection, was only accessible by special permit granted by the State, contained aged and politically incorrect material. Towards the conclusion of Soviet rule, the State resulted in loosened restrictions on publishing and information. Journals and Soviet books similarly disappeared from libraries which were based on the changes in Soviet history. Frequently Soviet citizens preferred to eliminate politically incorrect publications and pictures since all those associated with them often suffered persecution. (Kaganovsky & Salazkina, 2014) Censorship was supported in instances where programs didn't see the favor of the Soviet leadership with newspaper campaigns against offending material and also sanctions applied although professional organizations were controlled by the party.

However, in the early 20th century, papers did not face any limitation in their free distribution. All newspapers in Azerbaijan were freely circulated throughout the country. Most papers in Azerbaijan are freely distributed all over the nation. The Council of Europe and the European Commission has produced, Freedom of information and expression, an application to offer freedom to the press in Azerbaijan was also announced. A journalistic Academy was established in Azerbaijan with the assistance of us Embassy. (Akedeniz, 2007) The primary reason for the Academy is increasing the professionalism of journalists and in order to foster devotion to the profession of theirs.

Nevertheless, recently, the control of online media and harassment of online activists and bloggers have been increased by the federal government. Media freedom groups have expressed concern about the government's surveillance of journalists' online and phone communications. The crackdown on journalists comes with the intimidation and arrest of freedom of human rights activists and expressions, like Intigam Aliyev, and Leyle Yunus who had been arrested in 2014. (PEARCE, 2014) Most of them had to leave the nation out of concern for the safety of theirs. Assaults on journalists and activists are seldom prosecuted. As a result of such a world, self-censorship is prevalent among Azerbaijani journalists. The bulk of print and broadcast media are managed by the government and the allies of its. In several instances, media outlets are controlled through nominal intermediaries. The absence of regulations on the transparency of media ownership causes it to be hard to determine the real owners of press outlets. A couple of independent media outlets are struggling to make it. Most journalists work without social security and contracts and receive unusual salaries.

Media Outlets

Broadcast and print media in Azerbaijan are subsidized or state-owned mostly by the government. Ownership opacity is supported by law. Azerbaijan hosts nine national Tv stations, more than twelve regional Tv stations, twenty-five radio channels, more than thirty daily newspapers. (Interfax, 2013)

Rustam Mammad Ibrahim oglu Ibragimbekov is really a Soviet, Azerbaijani screenwriter, dramatist, and producer, famous beyond his place Azerbaijan and the former Soviet Union. He's the president of the Union of Director and Azerbaijan at the Ibrus Theatre. In 1995, the Ibrahimbeyov received an Academy Award for as the Best Foreign Film. This moment is referred to as among the proudest events in Azerbaijan cinema history. Right now, that the USSR doesn't exist any longer, Azerbaijani filmmakers are once again by fighting problems much like those experienced by cinematographers prior to the establishment of the Soviet Union in the early '90s. Once more, both options of sponsorship and content of movies are mostly left as much as the initiative on the filmmaker.