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â€œRacketeeringâ€ newspapers included into blast list of Press Council will not receive aids by state â€“ INTERVIEW

â€œRacketeeringâ€ newspapers included into blast list of Press Council will not receive aids by state â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

30 June 2009 15:53 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva â€“ APA. Chairman of Azerbaijan Press Council, member of Observation Council of the Fund of State Support for Mass Media Aflatun Amashov interviewed by APA

-Can we regard the competition organized for financing the projects of mass media and journalist organizations as the main priority of the Fund?

-I think in the forthcoming years different mechanisms will be assessed in financing mass media. â€œThe Concept of state support for the development of mass media in Azerbaijanâ€ contains items concerning this. But, as the Fund has been established recently, it is impossible to pay much attention to them. On the other hand, funds have been allocated for mass media from the state budget. The main task is to use it effectively. The most acceptable variant for this is to organize competition. Of course, as the amount of the funds is increased, we will use other forms of aid shown in the concept. I think it requires time. As regards the process itself, the state has offered aid to mass media up to now. Important documents have been signed, decrees and orders issued concerning the development of media. For example, the debts of newspaper to Azerbaijan Publishing House were written off, media outlets received one time financial aids on the occasion of National Press Day, various journalists were awarded honorary titles. It demonstrates the tradition of state support for media. The fund will systematize this support and assistance and ensure its regularity. The goal is obvious: to strengthen material base of the independent media, increase economic independence, achieve professionalism. I think the state should offer assistance to media unless all this is achieved.

-What are the main directions and themes of the competition?

-Projects will be received in 12 directions on 45 themes. One of the directions aims to increase professionalism and responsibility of journalists. It also includes monitoring journalistsâ€™ observing rules of professional behavior, studying the international practice for increasing professionalism and responsibility of journalists. In this respect the 1st direction on improving freedom of expression, information, pluralism, legislation, 11th direction on improving the activity of mass media, 12th direction on awarding mass media and journalists, journalistsâ€™ participation in international events, on supporting the ideas and initiatives of social importance put forward by media, conferences, workshops and other events, activities arising from the items of the Concept, on offering methodical, consultative and technical assistance to media are very important. The directions of the competition cover almost all important spheres. The topics are very profound. For example, the 2nd direction on protection of human rights and freedoms. It aims to cover human rights, gender equality in media, protect rights and freedoms of various categories of population, protect rights of separate journalists, increase legal knowledge of citizens and their social activeness, support establishment of civil society.

The directions and themes of the competition allow media to influence all spheres of public life. The realization of these issues strengthens mechanisms of mediaâ€™s influence on the society. This is very important. Sometimes media either does not pay attention or pays little attention to a number of issues because of various factors â€“ influence of politicization, limited self-financing opportunities. For example, promotion of socio-economic development of regions, physical and moral development of children and the youth, protection of public interests and state interests. I think financial aid will cause revival in these spheres. Moreover, the projects may be additional stimulus for every media outlet to work out its own concept. If the activities are successful, it will surely contribute to establishing civil society.

- The contest rules require not to include the publications violating professional behavior principles or punished by the Press Council in the contendersâ€™ list. How many media organizations will be out of the contest from this point of view?

- I would like to attach attention other rules of the contest as well. It says that regular publications over the past year with not less that 1000 circulation and one-week periodicity, magazines with 500 circulation one-month periodicity, registered news agencies providing regular news production and sale, as well as other registered media organizations and journalist unions experienced in the field of freedom of speech and press and the development of mass media, can participate in the contest. There are very simple terms and the most minimum requirements were taken into consideration. I make you sure that the media organizations punished by the Press Council are not meeting these requirements and are inattentive to the professional principles. I suppose the existent procedure will make all of contenders to be careful and attentive. The number of media organizations and even some leading organizations violate the professional behavior rules. It doesnâ€™t mean that all of them will be out of the contest. Of course, the shortages are not avoidable during the activity. But clear disrespect to the professional principles and its regular repeat is inexcusable.

- Will those 71 publications included in the â€œblack listâ€ of the Press Council be out of the contest and deprived of the governmentâ€™s assistance?

- Yes, it will be so at least in 2009. We stated for many times that the â€œracketâ€ publications will not receive the governmentâ€™s assistance. There is a certain mechanism. If the â€œblack listâ€ publications change their activity, we can change view on that. Unfortunately we are still receiving complaints about the media organizations placed in this listâ€¦

- There is a court decision among the restrictions on the participation in the contestâ€¦

- The question is that the financial resources will be transferred to the bank account of each organization. If there is a court decision to fine any newspaper or magazine, those resources will be removed from their accounts. It is inadmissible to redeem debts of media organization out of proceeds of the resources allocated by the fund. Therefore that point was included in the contest rules. Other court decisions have no relation with this issue.

-There are some protests after the contest announcement. What do you think, how groundless is the claims?

- I welcome every effort and proposal toward the improvement of our common work, our media and I see any protest against it natural if they have pure intention. Recently I read an article which protest why the fund doesnâ€™t allocate resources for the individuals. The articleâ€™s author said that incomes of the projects will meet needs of not ordinary journalists, but managers of media and journalist organizations. The author based on the facts that the ordinary journalist didnâ€™t benefit from the resources granted by the president on one occasion only last year. Of course, such cases are inadmissible. But current mechanisms and financial opportunities of the fund allow it to work only with the legal entities and it will be controlled certainly. Regarding the evaluation of the individual journalist projects, I consider that the issue will be solved in the next years. There are remarks about the restriction on the participation of online media in the contest and those are fair remarks because online media increases its role in the information environment of the country despite it is new. I think measures will be taken next year to prevent all discords on this issue.