Azerbaijan State News Agency marks its 106th anniversary

Baku, March 1, AZERTAC

AzerTaj, a branch of the Russian Telegraph Agency (ROSTA), AzKavRosta, AzerTA, ZagTA, the State Telegraph Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency, and finally the Azerbaijan State News Agency…

Operating under various names throughout its history, AZERTAC today celebrates its 106th anniversary. Founded on March 1, 1920 by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, AZERTAC has undergone a complex, difficult and honorable path as the first national news agency. On March 2 of the same year, the first news reports signed by AzerTaj were published in the newspaper Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, as a legacy of the republican era, AZERTAC operated as an independent news source for only 58 days.

After the fall of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, the agency functioned as a branch of the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union (TASS) and over 70 years changed its name seven times, facing strict limitations in news coverage. Nevertheless, despite these constraints, the agency fulfilled its historical mission to the end.

Following the restoration of Azerbaijan’s independence, the agency regained its historical name – from March 3, 1995 it was called the State Telegraph Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers, and from January 17, 2000, the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency. By an order of President Ilham Aliyev dated February 26, 2015, the Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency was renamed the Azerbaijan State Information Agency (AZERTAC).

Throughout its activity, the agency has chronicled the history of the country and covered the path traversed by the republic. Successfully overcoming numerous challenges, AZERTAC soon after the restoration of state independence began to serve as Azerbaijan’s informational window to the world. Today, as the country’s main news resource, it is experiencing a new stage of development, continuously improving its operations through modern information technologies and tools, and is recognized as an accurate and reliable source of news.

A look at its history makes it clear that the road traveled by Azerbaijan’s first national news agency – AZERTAC – has been thorny, complex and difficult. In its early years, the agency had an extremely weak material and technical base. In 1932, the first Kleinshmidt teletype machine, purchased abroad, was installed at the agency.

After the arrival of National Leader Heydar Aliyev to Azerbaijan’s political leadership in 1969, a revival began in all spheres of the republic’s life. At that time, the national news agency, then called Azerinform, entered a new stage of development. In the 1970s, when TASS began the full computerization of its Moscow headquarters, in recognition of Heydar Aliyev it equipped Azerinform – after Ukrinform among the Soviet republics – with then-modern Videoton computers and later with Olivetti systems.

Guided by the recommendations of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, the agency’s staff continues not only to uphold the noble patriotic traditions of national journalism but also to work persistently to strengthen its position in the global information space. Overall, cooperation agreements have been signed with approximately 55 foreign news agencies and media entities, and information exchange is carried out with agencies operating on five continents. During the reporting year, four new cooperation agreements were signed.

Within international and regional media organizations, AZERTAC also closely cooperates with Associated Press, Reuters, Press Association, DPA, Xinhua and a number of other reputable news broadcasters.

AZERTAC is an active member of the World Congress of News Agencies Council, the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), and the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA). Chairing both the World Congress of News Agencies and OANA from 2016 to 2019, AZERTAC inscribed its name in the history of global media. In 2023, at the founding General Assembly of the Alliance of Turkic News Agencies (ATHA) in Istanbul, AZERTAC was elected Secretary General of the organization.

AZERTAC’s reports are disseminated through news bulletins, five websites – azertag.az (main website), video.azertag.az (video portal), portal.azertag.az (Children’s Knowledge Portal), photo.azertag.az (photo portal), and special.azertag.az (a website for people with visual impairments) – as well as through social networks and messenger platforms including Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, VKontakte, TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp, and WeChat.

Thousands of news items, videos, and photographs highlighting Azerbaijan’s achievements in socio-political, socio-economic, scientific, cultural and other fields are published annually on the websites of international and regional media structures of which the agency is a member, as well as on the platforms of partner national news agencies.

The years of leadership of President Ilham Aliyev have marked a significant period for AZERTAC, characterized by a qualitative rise in news broadcasting to a new level. Owing to consistent attention and support, the agency – equipped with the most advanced technologies – has strengthened its competitiveness and for more than four years has operated from a new building offering high standards of working conditions. This has contributed to further improving the quality and efficiency of information flow and to confident integration into the global information space. Currently, AZERTAC publishes news in eight languages – Azerbaijani, English, Russian, German, French, Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish. Moreover, the agency was the first in the region to launch the distribution of video news in five languages. It promptly and objectively delivers information about Azerbaijan to the most remote corners of the world, establishing itself as an authoritative, reliable, and impartial source of news internationally.

Today, Azerbaijan is experiencing the most powerful period in its history. The Great Victory in the Patriotic War, the successful conduct of anti-terror measures, and the full restoration of the country’s state sovereignty have marked the beginning of a new stage in national development. In this context, broad prospects are also opening up for the country’s media.

Large-scale reforms are being carried out to modernize the press and align it with global standards. AZERTAC is actively adapting to contemporary challenges and requirements by implementing consistent innovations. Creative management enables the agency to regularly update its news architecture and bring information dissemination in line with international standards. All of this is reflected in AZERTAC’s activities.

The agency began its work on March 1, 1920, and today operates continuously, 24 hours a day, covering all spheres of national life – socio-political, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, medical, sports, environmental, and many others.

During the reporting year, which marked the 150th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press, one AZERTAC employee was awarded the honorary title “Honored Journalist,” one received the “Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” six were awarded the “Tereggi” medal, and 28 received the jubilee medal “150th Anniversary of the Azerbaijani National Press (1875–2025).”

Last year, in a competition organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, AZERTAC was named “Best Sports Media Structure of the Year.” According to a traditional public opinion survey conducted by the Azerbaijan Sports Journalists Association among media representatives, sports fans, and experts, AZERTAC was recognized as “News Agency of the Year.” AZERTAC correspondents won various journalism competitions organized by MEDIA and other state institutions and were awarded honorary diplomas and certificates for effective cooperation. The agency’s photographs received more than 10 awards at international competitions.

Occupying a unique place in the global information space, the agency conducts its activities in line with modern requirements, creating a comprehensive and authentic chronicle of the new history of Azerbaijan – an independent country successfully developing in all spheres, having fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and holding an authoritative position in the world.