The main session of the international conference “Media and Communication Activities in the Digital Age”, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press, has officially opened at Baku State University (BSU). The event is jointly organized by BSU and Üsküdar University (Türkiye), in partnership with the Media Development Agency, the Audiovisual Council, and the Press Council of Azerbaijan.

Ahead of the session, participants visited the Alley of Honor to pay tribute to national leader Heydar Aliyev and the founder of the Azerbaijani national press, Hasan bey Zardabi.

The session began with the screening of a commemorative video dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the national press.

In his opening remarks, BSU Rector Elchin Babayev congratulated participants on the occasion, noting the significance of celebrating this milestone during the “Year of Constitution and Sovereignty” and the fifth anniversary of the Victory. He emphasized that the pursuit of an independent state and a just society has long been a central aspiration of the Azerbaijani people, with the national press playing a vital role in advancing these ideals.

Highlighting the legacy of Ekinchi, the first Azerbaijani-language newspaper founded by Hasan bey Zardabi in 1875, Babayev stated that the national press had played an exceptional role in promoting enlightenment and shaping public consciousness. The ideas first expressed through Ekinchi laid the foundation for a broader movement of intellectual and societal renewal.

The rector also praised the pivotal role of national leader Heydar Aliyev in establishing freedom of speech and press in Azerbaijan. In particular, he noted the historic 1998 presidential decree that abolished press censorship, ushering in a new era for Azerbaijani media. President Ilham Aliyev has continued this legacy by prioritizing media development, creating favorable conditions for independent journalism, and strengthening the legal, material, and institutional foundations of the media sector, including the establishment of the Media Development Agency and the adoption of the Law “On Media.”

Babayev emphasized the courageous role played by Azerbaijani journalists during the 44-day Patriotic War, underlining their efforts in delivering accurate and timely information to the global community and countering disinformation. He added that the ongoing modernization and reconstruction efforts in liberated territories, led by President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva, are opening new opportunities and responsibilities for media and academia alike.

He concluded by highlighting BSU’s commitment to journalism education and its close cooperation with key media stakeholders, including the Media Development Agency, the Audiovisual Council, AZTV, AZERTAC, ARB24, REAL TV, Xalq Qəzeti, and others. “BSU’s continued efforts will help usher the press into a new stage and strengthen its presence on the global information stage,” he said.

Rector of Üsküdar University Nazife Güngör also addressed the audience, emphasizing the strong and expanding cooperation between Azerbaijan and Türkiye. “Our countries must continue to strengthen ties not only in politics and economics but also in science, education, culture, and media,” she said. Güngör noted that BSU and Üsküdar University aim to collaborate through joint academic models, exchange programs, and scientific research initiatives.

The session was also attended by notable figures from the media and academic communities, including Chairman of the Press Council Rashad Majid, Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Natig Mammadli, Chairman of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting CJSC Rovshan Mammadov, Member of the Milli Majlis and Head of the Department at Baku Slavic University Vugar Rahimzade, General Director of the REAL Information and Analytical Center LLC Mirshahin Agayev, and Head of the Department of History of the National Press at BSU Jahangir Mammadli.

Following the session, the first issue of BSU’s new scientific-theoretical and analytical journal Media Problemləri (Media Problems) was presented. The editor-in-chief, Head of the Department of Multimedia and Electronic Communications at BSU, Gulu Maharramli, noted that the journal aims to provide a scientific platform for analyzing current challenges in the media sphere and will contribute to shaping discourse on the key trends and directions in the future of media.