Media and Broadcasting Council to be established on the basis of the Media Development Agency and the Audiovisual Council.
According to “Elchi”, this is reflected in the proposed amendments to the Law “On Media”, which were discussed at today’s meeting of the Human Rights Committee of the Milli Majlis.
The Media and Broadcasting Council will be the authorized state body in the field of media and broadcasting in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Thus, this body will perform the powers of the Media Development Agency and the Audiovisual Council. The Media and Broadcasting Council is also granted additional rights and duties. The new rights will be as follows:
– to take measures to strengthen the economic independence of media entities;
– to implement measures related to expanding and strengthening cooperation between state bodies (institutions) and media entities, improving the relations of state bodies (institutions) with media entities, and increasing mutual trust;
– to implement measures (trainings, seminars, etc.) aimed at increasing the professionalism and responsibility of journalists, organizing the training and further education of specialists in the media field, as well as organizing competitions for media representatives;
– to order programs and materials aimed at educating the population or a certain segment, forming behavioral rules in accordance with social norms, attracting their attention to current issues in society, and ensuring their broadcast in the media;
– to act as a state customer for the production and broadcasting of audiovisual products, and to hold competitions for this purpose;
– to take measures to implement projects aimed at fair, balanced, objective, and impartial coverage of events occurring in society and state policy in the media, adherence to professional ethics (ethical behavior) rules by media entities, and ensuring the information security of the citizen, society, and the state;
– to organize the implementation of projects significant for the state and society aimed at the development of media entities, strengthening their economic independence, and improving their activities, and to hold competitions for this purpose;
– to approve the intended competition rules;
– to take measures aimed at stimulating the application of new information-communication technologies and innovations in the media field;
– to take measures to prevent the spread of disinformation, including its detection, assessment, and elimination;
– to establish and ensure the operation of operational coordination mechanisms with relevant state bodies (institutions) for the purpose of reducing the risks of spreading disinformation and minimizing its consequences;
– to conduct analyses related to the activities of media entities, as well as to organize the study of public opinion;
– to study public opinion, the dynamics and trends of the development of mutual relations between the state and society, public opinion regarding the activities of state bodies (institutions) based on the analysis of the information environment and sociological surveys, to identify issues significant for society, and to provide proposals;
– to carry out analysis of digital content in the media, including social network platforms, and take measures according to the results;
– to apply to the relevant authorities for taking measures when the activities of media entities do not meet the requirements provided by law;
– to form and maintain the Media Registry, and to control its use and the protection of data;
– to issue Media Registry certificates to media entities included in the Media Registry, and journalist cards to journalists;
In addition, the following duties will apply to the new body:
– to issue special bulletins and other publications;
– to conduct research on adherence to professional (ethical) conduct rules in the media field and prepare recommendations in this direction;
– to order social advertisements in accordance with the Law “On Advertising”;
– to place orders with natural and legal persons for the purpose of conducting analyses, surveys, preparing reports, opinions, and proposals in accordance with its areas of activity;
– to participate in international events, including forums, conferences, exhibitions, and other events related to issues within its competence, and to organize the holding of such events;
– to exercise the rights established by normative legal acts over state property placed at its disposal;
– to exercise the rights provided for in the relevant procedural legislation in courts regarding issues within its competence;
– to organize procurements in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Public Procurement”;
– to provide proposals for the creation, reorganization, and liquidation of subordinate bodies not included in its structure.
The chairman and members of the Council will be appointed and dismissed by the body (institution) determined by the relevant executive authority. The members of the Council will elect 2 (two) deputy chairmen from among themselves by a simple majority vote.
It was noted that in the modern era, there is a need for a transition to a more flexible and collegial mechanism regarding the media sector in Azerbaijan to ensure national information security and the economic independence of the media. The mentioned mechanism, in turn, necessitates a unified approach to the media, which is the main pillar of the information system, by erasing the boundaries between print, online, and audiovisual media.
In this regard, the creation of a unified body – the Media and Broadcasting Council – in the draft law, the reflection of duties and obligations related to the Council in the Law “On Media”, and the fact that the body is based on a collegial management model is an effective mechanism that guarantees the independence of the media and the increase of public trust in the body.
The proposed amendments to the Law “On Media” will create conditions for ensuring the security of the internal information space, as well as giving impetus to the development of local media.