The history of the Azerbaijani national press is not merely a history of information dissemination, but also one of public enlightenment, the formation of national consciousness, and the modernization of society. Founded in 1875 by Hasan bey Zardabi, the "Akinchi" ("The Cultivator") newspaper laid the foundation of our national press by advocating for science, education, and progress. The newspapers and journals published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries considered the enlightenment of the people to be one of their main missions in a society where deep patriarchal perceptions still prevailed and education was not accessible to the broad strata of the population.
The intellectuals of that era guided people toward reading, critical thinking, science, and secular education through the press, actively fighting against ignorance, backwardness, and social injustice. Publications like "Molla Nasraddin" did not only highlight existing problems, but also gave society the courage to look at itself from the outside, recognize its shortcomings, and change. The first national press outlets played a vital role in the national awakening by conveying to the public consciousness the importance of education, women's enlightenment, the native language, and social progress.
Today, technological advancements have made the public voice accessible to virtually everyone. Any individual can create information and reach a wide audience. However, this does not mean that the need for professional journalism has diminished. On the contrary, in a modern era where information, opinions, and emotions spread rapidly, society needs an honest, impartial, and professional voice more than ever.
A journalist must earn the respect and trust of the public not only through their writing, but also through their personality, position, and conduct. They must thoroughly research the topic they write about, verify the facts, and bear responsibility for the consequences that every word may generate. While modern technologies significantly facilitate information retrieval, they can never replace professional conscience, analytical thinking, and the ability to distinguish truth from misinformation.
For a word to be impactful, it does not necessarily need to be spoken loudly. What matters most is being honest with oneself, treating the audience with respect, and being able to separate truth from emotion, fact from conjecture, and valuable insight from informational noise. Trust is difficult to earn, and preserving it demands even greater professionalism and responsibility.
In our work, we continuously and attentively monitor materials published in the press and on social media. We genuinely and highly value professional, well-founded criticism. It is particularly valuable to us when journalists bring to light nuances that we may not have noticed or fully perceived ourselves, drawing attention to existing issues and thereby helping us improve our activities.
The pioneers of our national press perceived the word as a mission serving the enlightenment and development of the people. It is my hope that modern Azerbaijani journalism, remaining faithful to this great enlightenment tradition, will continue to serve society by encouraging thoughtful reflection, fostering the perception of truth, and building a better future.
I wish all media representatives professional integrity, independent thinking, the sustained respect of society, and unwavering fidelity to their word.
Happy National Press Day!
Maleyka Abbaszade
Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the State Examination Center