Fuad Huseynaliyev: "Media responsibility is growing today"

"The development of information technology has led to the emergence of new relationships in a number of areas. In general, the progress of society is driven by the development of information technology. The development of communication also has a positive impact on people and intercultural relations. This also effects the speed of information dissemination and its efficiency. Undoubtedly, at this point, the protection of tolerance, freedom of expression, and opinion, which is one of the main issues for the unity of society, is an important factor, Director of the Report News Agency Fuad Huseynaliyev said at a round-table discussion on the growing disinformation, its influence on press and effective response strategies, held at ADA University.

He said that in the context of numerous social networks, respect for and protection of a number of the essential issues is one of the key topics:

"Therefore, tolerance between cultures, respect and mutual understanding in society, promotion of peace and peaceful coexistence, prevention and fight against aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism, xenophobia are also important conditions. In this regard, chaos and impunity will spread prejudice, hatred, endanger the security of the state, and lead to social split.”

Fuad Huseynaliyev noted that the media is trying to further develop the state's commitment to tolerance, and there are many publications in Russian, English, and Armenian in Azerbaijan.

He noted that in a sense, the social media got accustomed to extreme freedom:

"Usually, unverified rumors are presented as facts. For its part, the media publish any news after confirmation. Nowadays, the responsibility of the media is further growing. For example, we come across information about Russia's aggression against Ukraine on social networks, but a little research reveals that some of them are fake."

Expanding his thoughts further, Fuad Huseynaliyev said that a few days ago, Mubariz Aslanov, the correspondent of Report and Baku TV in Ukraine, attended a news conference of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday and asked several questions.

“Zelensky answered his questions completely and fully, and news portals and TV channels in Azerbaijan widely disseminated the answers of the Ukrainian president. However, Mubariz, who was excited at such a news conference, did not express his questions fully and fluently in Russian and was therefore criticized on social media.

"However, some social network users, who posted negative posts purely due to his language skills, were disinterested in the fact that Mubariz has been carrying out his professional duty with dignity, risking his life for almost two months.

Fuad Huseynaliyev stressed that Azerbaijan preserves traditions of tolerance, the peaceful coexistence of representatives of many ethnic groups, and develops these traditions.

"The power of the state also lies in its multiculturalism. Azerbaijan also possesses this richness," he said.