WORLD PRESS TRENDS - World Association of Newspapers

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