WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers
WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers
WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
AZERBAIJAN<br />
AZERBAIJAN<br />
Due to a lack <strong>of</strong> available data, the majority <strong>of</strong> charts in this entry have not been updated since the 2002 edition <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>World</strong> Press Trends. Those that have not been updated clearly state the year to which the data relates.<br />
Commentary – Azer H. Hasret, Secretary General, Azerbaijan Journalists Confederation (AJK)<br />
Azerbaijan’s printed media faced fewer problems in 2002 than<br />
in previous years. There was a large decrease in court cases<br />
against journalists, and no newspaper was <strong>of</strong>ficially banned.<br />
Instead some weeklies turned into dailies and most newspapers<br />
launched online versions. Now the internet is widely used by<br />
newspapers and journalists, and no daily is without a website.<br />
Some 20 dailies were printed during the year.<br />
The Law On Mass Media was changed and greatly liberalised.<br />
According to the law no one needs a licence or state registration<br />
to start newspaper; a prospective publisher need only send a<br />
letter notifying the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Justice or its appropriate regional<br />
body. And after this letter is acknowledged, the publisher need<br />
wait only one week before publishing the first issue. According<br />
to the law’s Clause 14 “the legal or physical person wishing to<br />
establish print publication is obliged to apply <strong>of</strong>ficially to the<br />
relevant organ <strong>of</strong> executive authority 7 days before the printing<br />
the publication. The application shall contain the following:<br />
1. the title <strong>of</strong> print publication, aim, circulation, legal address;<br />
2. the name and surname <strong>of</strong> the founder, editor or editor-inchief<br />
(if any) <strong>of</strong> print publication;<br />
3. if the founder or editorial collective <strong>of</strong> print publication is a<br />
legal person, the registered charter <strong>of</strong> that entity.”<br />
Fewer journalists were sued than in previous years: there were<br />
130 disputes about the freedom <strong>of</strong> speech and the press in 2002,<br />
POPULATION<br />
compared to 218 in 2001. In 42% <strong>of</strong> the cases in 2002, journalists<br />
were found to be at fault, but in 58% <strong>of</strong> cases the other party<br />
was at fault.<br />
Economic pressures on mass media continued in 2002,<br />
particularly the lack <strong>of</strong> advertising. Public bodies, as well as<br />
private bodies with ties to the government, <strong>of</strong>ten confine their<br />
advertising to state media.<br />
Another kind <strong>of</strong> economic pressure is confiscation <strong>of</strong> printing<br />
outlets or banning their sale, on the instructions <strong>of</strong> state bodies.<br />
Several issues <strong>of</strong> the newspaper Hurriyyet were banned in the<br />
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and Shamakhi region,<br />
which lost the newspaper 1,500,000 manats. In the same manner,<br />
Yeni Musavat lost 7,765,500 manats, while Azadlig lost 800,000<br />
manats.<br />
The cover price <strong>of</strong> a single copy <strong>of</strong> a newspaper remained 1,000<br />
manats (US$0.20). Yeni Musavat kept its position as the<br />
newspaper with highest circulation.<br />
Qaya, the most influential private press distribution enterprise<br />
in the country, lost most <strong>of</strong> its kiosks in 2002.<br />
References:<br />
1. Committee to Protect Journalists (RUH)<br />
2. Journalists’ Trade Union (JuHI)<br />
Population by age and sex (2000)<br />
All individuals Male Female<br />
000 % 000 % 000 %<br />
Children 2,571 32 1,328 34 1,243 30<br />
15-24 1,426 18 706 18 720 17<br />
25-34 1,332 17 630 16 702 17<br />
34-44 1,251 16 607 16 644 16<br />
45-54 453 6 168 4 285 7<br />
55-64 502 6 232 6 270 7<br />
65+ 442 6 181 5 261 6<br />
Total 7,977 100 3,852 100 4,125 100<br />
Source: State Statistical Committee <strong>of</strong> Azerbaijan Republic<br />
Age structure <strong>of</strong> readership (1999)<br />
% monthly reach within<br />
Age<br />
age group<br />
18-20 53.3<br />
21-24 70.0<br />
25-34 56.0<br />
35-44 59.5<br />
45-54 58.6<br />
55-64 40.0<br />
65+ 31.0<br />
NUMBER OF TITLES AND CIRCULATION<br />
Change (%)<br />
1998 1999 2000 2001 98/2001 2000/01<br />
Number <strong>of</strong> titles<br />
National dailies 14 15 - 22 57.14 -<br />
Non-dailies 352 329 - - - -<br />
National non-dailies 273 250 - - - -<br />
Regional non-dailies 7 7 - - - -<br />
Local non-dailies 72 72 - - - -<br />
Sundays - - - 5 - -<br />
Circulation (000)<br />
National dailies 95 80 - 132 38.95 -<br />
Non-dailies 138 122 - - - -<br />
National non-dailies 136 120 - - - -<br />
Regional non-dailies 1 1 - - - -<br />
Local non-dailies 1 1 - - - -<br />
Sundays - - - 15 - -<br />
Titles<br />
25<br />
20<br />
15<br />
10<br />
5<br />
0<br />
Number <strong>of</strong> daily titles and circulation<br />
Titles<br />
Circulation<br />
140<br />
120<br />
100<br />
80<br />
60<br />
40<br />
20<br />
0<br />
1998 1999 2000 2001<br />
Circulation (000s)<br />
58 <strong>WORLD</strong> ASSOCIATION OF NEWSPAPERS - <strong>WORLD</strong> <strong>PRESS</strong> <strong>TRENDS</strong> 2003