Azerbaijan to create structure to monitor e-news portals

An Advisory Council will be created under the Azerbaijani Press Council to monitor the observance of journalistic ethics by the Internet news portals, Azerbaijani Press Council Chairman Aflatun Amashov said.

He said members to the advisory council will be elected by the experienced managers of information portals. Amashov said such a practice exists in other countries.

"No country in the world controls the activities of Internet portals. However, social structures exist anywhere in the world and they control the quality of published materials and their conformity or nonconformity of journalistic ethics. In some countries, Internet portals themselves create such a social structure, and monitor through these structures. In other countries, this mission journalistic is performed by organization," Amashov siad.

At a time of decision-making in respect to Internet portals, the Press Council will base on the advisory board’s decisions. He said the decisions will include a public reprimand, no administrative penalty will be applied.

"Decisions based on public reprimand are more effective. The media understands this and tries not to violate ethical standards. In practice, we have not yet faced with the constant violation of the ethical norms by the Internet information portals," he said.


/Trend/