30.06.2016

The flagship returns

JAMnews

The “Ayna newspaper is back! This news was on top of agenda until it has been muffled by the Istanbul tragedy.

The “Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper [“Ayna – the Azerbaijani word for the mirror, “Zerkalo – the Russian word for the mirror] existed since 1990, and when it was closed, the Bakuvians experienced an unpleasant feeling: it seemed that something was broken in the usual lifestyle pattern. “Ayna – Zerkalo seemed eternal.

The newspaper was published in an ‘abridged’ variant every day – current news, and as a ‘thick newspaper’ on Saturdays – an issue with analytical articles, horoscopes, a story on the second last page and a crossword puzzle. There was no chance to get it by noon – the entire issue went off like a hotcake within a couple of hours. There was a time in the mid-90s, that it had a circulation of 100,000.

When the “Ayna – Zerkalo was closed for the financial reasons in 2014, the journalists from other outlets and media interpreted this as the end of the last independent newspapers. Rauf Mirkadyrov, one of the journalists at the “Mirror newspaper, had been arrested shortly before that. Later he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for high treason.

In 24 years, the “Ayna – Zerkalo become kind of a school, having raised up the whole generation of journalists. Carefully maneuvering between the powerful of this world, until the very last moment the newspaper managed to maintain its individual, non-imposed and very free editorial policy against the general background of the Azerbaijani print media.

Elchin Shihli, former and current editor-in-chief of the “Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper, explained that the newspaper would actually represent a blog on ayna.az, and only columnists would be writing for it.

Elchin Shihli. Photo ayna.az

“Judging by the people’s reaction after the spread of this news, it could be said that it will be interesting for some people. The authors, who are willing to write for us, are my friends. Despite certain differences, we are the like-minded people and we can achieve a common denominator.

Elchin Shihli believes, the readers will get interested in the article by venerable professionals, all accumulated on a single resource. “This, however, does not mean that others cannot publish articles with us. We’ll see, if a circle expands and there are people willing to write, we will certainly take them. “However, those, willing to write for the “Mirror, should not look to any earned income. The newspaper didn’t have money by the time it was closed, neither does it have any now. But people agree to work for free.

Gulu Maharramli, a media expert:

“When the news offered by the media resources do not satisfy the public, when there is bias, disbalance, the society does not get normal information, the audience turns regard on individuals’ articles. There is such a practice in Europe and in Russia.

Gulu Maharramli. Photo sputnik.az

All those, who will write here, are the people who have passed certain path in journalism; the reporters, whom the elite audience trusts. In addition, the project is headed by a man with a social position, who is guided by the national consciousness. The authors from his surrounding are perceived the same way. As far as I know, there will be also a TV-project.”

Nijat Melikov, ex- head of the “Mirror newspaper’s policy department:

“It was Elchin Shihli, the “Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper co-founder, who has made a decision to ‘publish’ the “Ayna newspaper with the author’s articles only in the electronic version. At least, the boss is one of the most talented and experienced journalists in the post-Soviet space and I have no doubts about his goals and intentions, as well as that the right steps will be taken.”