“The draft law “On Media” has been elaborated perfectly. However, it would be better to make some amendments in the draft law,” Director of Report Information Agency, Fuad Huseynaliyev, said during the discussion of the draft law in the second reading at the online meeting of the Law Policy and State Building Committee and Human Rights Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament.
According to him, Article 13 of the draft law (Use of information) should be amended: “Under Article 13.1, a media outlet shall use the information and programs of another media outlet by subscribing or signing a contract. Article 13.2 says that without subscription or contract, a media outlet can use only up to one-third part of the information of another media outlet. According to Article 13.3, the Articles 13.1 and 13.2 don’t apply to the press releases of the state bodies and use of reports of information agencies.”
Huseynaliyev proposed that Article 13.3 of the bill should reflect the issue of reference to news agencies: “I think this paragraph should be reconsidered. Media outlets must use information with reference to agencies (private, exclusive information) on a subscription or contract basis.”
Executive Director of Media Development Agency (MEDIA) Ahmad Ismayilov also agreed with this proposal: “We note and discuss all recommendations. This issue is being resolved and will be discussed to be reflected in the bill.”