Elchin Shikhlinski: "Azerbaijan almost lacks independent press"

The due announcement was made by Elchin Shikhlinski, chairman of Journalists Union of Azerbaijan, editor-in-chief of Ayna and Zerkalo newspapers.

He commented on the recent monitoring of newspapers, held in the country, which caused an ambiguous reaction of the leaders of some mass medias.

According to Shikhlinski, the said monitoring was held under support of USAID and US Embassy to Azerbaijan.

"It is intended for the whole year and involves the Journalists' Union of Azerbaijan, Yeni Nasil, RUX, Najaf Najafov's fund and League of Democratic Journalists of Azerbaijan. The monitoring was held in the newspapers of Azerbaijan, issued both in Russian and in Azerbaijani and no other mass medias".

Shikhlinski said the monitoring revealed that some of the newspapers do not meet the standards, adopted in the Western countries with due instructions. He said the monitoring was held by independent experts, not working in the leading printed medias of the country.

"In line with our grant commitments, after the experts make their data public, this data undergoes expertize by lawyers and most moments are dispersed and recommendations are given. The recommendations are connected mainly with defamation, equilibration of information, issued in our newspapers and observance of ethical norms. Moreover, the experts assess whether it is possible to file a claim against this or that newspaper for issuing any material. The results of this monitoring should be issued in our press each month", Shikhlinski noted.

He also commented on the announcement of editor-in-chief of Yeni Musavat newspaper Rauf Arifoglu, who called the monitoring harmful for Azerbaijani mass medias.

"I do not exclude that this monitoring is too harmful for Yeni Musavat newspaper, but it was useful for the printed medias of our country", he said.

He said the criticized newspapers should take a lesson from it.

"I agree that it is too difficult to get information from official sources. This is problem No 1 for Azerbaijani reporters. But this does not justify publication of unreliable information and gossips..."

He also commented on Rauf Arifoglu's statement according to which Yeni Musavat newspaper is an independent edition.

"I think Azerbaijan almost lacks independent newspapers. Moreover, party newspapers, can not be regarded as independent".

Shikhlinski considers that party newspapers cause the greatest harm to our journalism as they form an opinion, favorable for the party they represent.

/Day.Az/