Journalists announce revival of "Baku Press Club"

The "Baku Press Club" resumes its activities after a 16-year break. The project will give an impetus to the development of free media in Azerbaijan, and there will be no censorship on the website of the "Baku Press Club", founders assure.

The revival of the "Baku Press Club" (BPC) that existed in 1998-2003 was initiated by Arif Aliev, the chairman of the journalists' association "Yeni Nasil" (New Generation). According to him, the BPC will contribute to solution of media problems and increase the professionalism of journalists.

The activities will take place on the "pressklub.az" website. People will find there information on local and international laws relating to the media, journalistic investigations, and translations of materials about Azerbaijan published by foreign media. It is planned to hold virtual meetings with well-known people.

"In the 1970s, the Turkish media were much worse than the current Azerbaijani media. Meanwhile, after journalists began to organize themselves, 10 years later the Turkish media became one of the leading in Europe. However, in recent years there have been reverse processes," Arif Aliev said.

According to Shakhin Gadjiev, the editor of the agency "Turan", earlier, the BPC had stopped its activities because of the lack of financing and the launch of a press council project by the authorities. Shakhin Gadjiev believes the revival of the BPC is important for the free media.