From 2026, the number of daily newspapers in Azerbaijan will decrease.
Medianews.az reports that currently there are 10 daily newspapers in the country: "Azərbaycan", "Xalq qəzeti", "İki sahil", "Yeni Azərbaycan", "Yeni Müsavat", "525-ci qəzet", "Bakı xəbər", "Səs", "Şərq", "Novoye vremya".
The newspaper "Azərbaycan" is the organ of the National Assembly, and "Xalq qəzeti" is a publication of the Presidential Administration.
The founder of "İki sahil" is the State Oil Company.
The founders finance "Azərbaycan", "Xalq qəzeti", and "İki sahil".
Although "Yeni Azərbaycan" is the organ of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, its financial support comes from the Media Development Agency.
The Media Development Agency provides financial support not only to "Yeni Azərbaycan" but also to five other daily newspapers ("Yeni Müsavat", "Səs", "Şərq", "Bakı xəbər", and "525-ci qəzet"), and allocates funds for one issue per week of the Russian-language "Novoye vremya".
Thus, all 10 daily newspapers receive financial support from the state. Seven of them receive financial support from the Media Development Agency.
Currently, six daily publications ("Yeni Azərbaycan", "Yeni Müsavat", "Səs", "Şərq", "Bakı xəbər", and "525-ci qəzet") receive 15,000 manats monthly, and their websites receive 3,000 manats.
However, this will not be the case from 2026 onward. The Agency will only provide financial assistance for the printing of one issue per week and will pay them 5,000 manats monthly for this purpose. Each newspaper's online version will receive 3,000 manats monthly in financial aid.
Based on editors-in-chief's statements, no change is planned in the circulation of "Yeni Azərbaycan"; "525-ci qəzet" and "Yeni Müsavat" are preparing to become weekly publications from 2026; and "Səs" and "Şərq" newspapers are said to have similar plans.
Medianews.az, relying on this information, draws attention to the fact that in 2026, daily newspapers in the country will at best be halved, with at least 5 out of 10 newspapers switching to weekly publication.
Toğrul Əli,
Medianews.az
