Elchin Mirzabayli: Shusha Media Forum became platform for dialogue on media's future

The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum has become an international platform for discussing global issues in media, information security, and humanitarian values, Azerbaijani MP Elchin Mirzabayli said, Report informs.

According to him, attention to the forum is growing every year, and President Ilham Aliyev's answers to questions from leading global media outlets are becoming the subject of discussion in international media and think tanks.

The deputy noted that the forum in Shusha is taking place during a controversial period of transformation for the media: "Today, the media is experiencing one of the most difficult and controversial periods of transformation in its history. While the emergence of radio initially presented a challenge to the print media, and television to radio, over time this process has naturally resolved itself, allowing each segment to develop its own audience. Current realities have presented serious challenges to virtually all media segments, especially traditional media. The situation is further complicated by the fact that the digital environment, to which traditional media have not yet fully adapted, is changing almost daily."

He emphasized that new "templates" sometimes dictate their terms to the media, pitting not only individual resources but also the information security of entire states against a reality where everything can be manipulated by countless algorithms: "This is precisely why the Shusha Global Media Forum can be considered a unique platform for professional media, which are literally struggling to transform themselves in line with new realities and preserve their existence."

According to Elchin Mirzabayli, the motto of the current forum, "The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust," reflects not only regional processes but also global challenges.

He also emphasized that a crisis of trust is one of the causes of modern conflicts, and restoring truth and trust should be an important task for the media. He emphasized that to maintain their role, traditional media must adhere to the principles of objectivity and credibility.