New bill bans hiring foreign editors
Foreign nationals will no longer be employed as
chief editors in Azerbaijan`s media, according to amendments and
addenda to be introduced to the country`s Law on Mass Media.
Nizami Jafarov, who heads the parliamentary commission on cultural issues, said during discussions on the changes on Friday that three changes had been proposed to the respective article of the law. The first addendum stipulates that if a foreign citizen or a person without higher education is appointed as editor of a media outlet, its operation may be suspended or discontinued under a relevant court ruling.
Jafarov noted that persons not holding university diplomas could actually work as newspaper editors. "However, if we look at the experience in Azerbaijan, such editors work mainly for racketeer papers," he said, referring to the unlawful practices by some journalists who use their position to extort money or other benefits.
Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the media watchdog, Press Council, agreed with the lawmaker. He suggested that if publications abuse their rights, fines should first be imposed upon them.
According to the amendments, if newspapers or magazines are found to have violated regulations more than once within a year, they may face a lawsuit on suspending their operation for one month.
Nizami Jafarov, who heads the parliamentary commission on cultural issues, said during discussions on the changes on Friday that three changes had been proposed to the respective article of the law. The first addendum stipulates that if a foreign citizen or a person without higher education is appointed as editor of a media outlet, its operation may be suspended or discontinued under a relevant court ruling.
Jafarov noted that persons not holding university diplomas could actually work as newspaper editors. "However, if we look at the experience in Azerbaijan, such editors work mainly for racketeer papers," he said, referring to the unlawful practices by some journalists who use their position to extort money or other benefits.
Aflatun Amashov, the chairman of the media watchdog, Press Council, agreed with the lawmaker. He suggested that if publications abuse their rights, fines should first be imposed upon them.
According to the amendments, if newspapers or magazines are found to have violated regulations more than once within a year, they may face a lawsuit on suspending their operation for one month.
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