Tweet
Azeri authorities shifting "propaganda" spending from papers to TV - daily
Azadliq, Baku
26 Nov 04
Text of Matlab report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 26
November headlined "The authorities are preparing to dispose of the
'excessive burden'" and subheaded "Money spent on some newspapers
will be channelled into TV stations. Newspaper editors are to find
patrons among affluent state officials"
In the wake of the 1998 presidential election, the Azerbaijani
government took under its wing a number of opposition and independent
newspapers. They also created numerous other newspapers. During
the 2000 parliamentary election, the government possessed around 10
"independent" newspapers, but did not stop at that and continued the
process until the 2003 presidential election.
Those newspapers were given bizarre names, had offices equipped
with new technologies and were well-funded. There was a directive
to display those newspapers at the front of the state-owned kiosks,
along with the state-run newspapers. Only one thing was wanted
from the "independent" newspapers in return for all these favours:
"Produce quality newspapers, brief the public on the government's
achievements efficiently and seek to erode the public's support for
the opposition." However, the newspapers did not live up to these
expectations. This means that the existence of those newspapers has
only resulted in a waste of money.
Apparently, the government ideologues are unwilling to continue their
policy of wasting money. In the near future, some pro-government
newspapers which did not live up to the expectations will have their
funding cut, according to a report that we have received from a source
within the authorities. The preliminary list of those newspapers
includes Palitra, Paritet, Kaspiy and Azad Azarbaycan. Reportedly, the
editors of those newspapers have already been told that the funding
will stop. The ideologues do not want the newspapers to close down
and so advised the editors to resolve the issue on their own. The
editors were advised to apply to various affluent state officials
and to continue their work under their patronage.
It is said that since Markaz, Hafta Ici, Bizim Asr and Xalq Cabhasi
newspapers are sponsored by certain people and act as mouthpieces
of certain state officials, their publication is not expected to
stop. Despite their lack of readership, Sas newspaper, which was
the first to defend [the late President] Heydar Aliyev, and Yeni
Azarbaycan newspaper, which is the organ of the NAP [the ruling New
Azerbaijan Party], will always be supported by the ruling elite.
The source also said that the ideologues want to channel the money
previously spent on newspapers which are no longer wanted into private
TV stations that are directly controlled by the authorities. It is
said that reporters at those TV stations have always disliked the
fact that they are paid less than the correspondents of the aforesaid
newspapers. Taking this into account, the government pundits want to
spend the money allocated for the mass media on TV stations that are
a more effective tool of propaganda.
Azadliq, Baku
26 Nov 04
Text of Matlab report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 26
November headlined "The authorities are preparing to dispose of the
'excessive burden'" and subheaded "Money spent on some newspapers
will be channelled into TV stations. Newspaper editors are to find
patrons among affluent state officials"
In the wake of the 1998 presidential election, the Azerbaijani
government took under its wing a number of opposition and independent
newspapers. They also created numerous other newspapers. During
the 2000 parliamentary election, the government possessed around 10
"independent" newspapers, but did not stop at that and continued the
process until the 2003 presidential election.
Those newspapers were given bizarre names, had offices equipped
with new technologies and were well-funded. There was a directive
to display those newspapers at the front of the state-owned kiosks,
along with the state-run newspapers. Only one thing was wanted
from the "independent" newspapers in return for all these favours:
"Produce quality newspapers, brief the public on the government's
achievements efficiently and seek to erode the public's support for
the opposition." However, the newspapers did not live up to these
expectations. This means that the existence of those newspapers has
only resulted in a waste of money.
Apparently, the government ideologues are unwilling to continue their
policy of wasting money. In the near future, some pro-government
newspapers which did not live up to the expectations will have their
funding cut, according to a report that we have received from a source
within the authorities. The preliminary list of those newspapers
includes Palitra, Paritet, Kaspiy and Azad Azarbaycan. Reportedly, the
editors of those newspapers have already been told that the funding
will stop. The ideologues do not want the newspapers to close down
and so advised the editors to resolve the issue on their own. The
editors were advised to apply to various affluent state officials
and to continue their work under their patronage.
It is said that since Markaz, Hafta Ici, Bizim Asr and Xalq Cabhasi
newspapers are sponsored by certain people and act as mouthpieces
of certain state officials, their publication is not expected to
stop. Despite their lack of readership, Sas newspaper, which was
the first to defend [the late President] Heydar Aliyev, and Yeni
Azarbaycan newspaper, which is the organ of the NAP [the ruling New
Azerbaijan Party], will always be supported by the ruling elite.
The source also said that the ideologues want to channel the money
previously spent on newspapers which are no longer wanted into private
TV stations that are directly controlled by the authorities. It is
said that reporters at those TV stations have always disliked the
fact that they are paid less than the correspondents of the aforesaid
newspapers. Taking this into account, the government pundits want to
spend the money allocated for the mass media on TV stations that are
a more effective tool of propaganda.