Media key to protecting truth, building trust, Ayaz Mirzayev says

The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum once again showed that information security, protection of truth and media diplomacy are among the key issues on the global agenda in the modern world, Ayaz Mirzayev, a participant of the forum and chairman of the Azerbaijan Journalists Network Public Union, told Report.

He noted that the theme of the forum, "The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust," was not chosen by chance.

"Against the backdrop of information wars taking place in the world today, the responsibility of the media is greater than ever. The remarks made by President Ilham Aliyev during the forum also covered these realities," he said.

Mirzayev emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev particularly highlighted Azerbaijan's support for lasting peace in the region, its political will in this regard, and the importance of objective and fact-based journalism in countering disinformation.

"The President's open and detailed answers to questions enabled international media representatives to receive information directly and hear Azerbaijan's position on various issues from the primary source. This is one of the forum's most important features in terms of transparency and open dialogue," he said.

According to Mirzayev, the main message of the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum is that the media is not only an institution that covers events, but also an important platform that contributes to building trust, preventing disinformation and developing dialogue between peoples.

"The forum's main outcomes will be the expansion of international media cooperation, the creation of new partnerships among professional journalists, the strengthening of mutual trust in the information environment, and the formation of common approaches to the role of professional journalism in the age of artificial intelligence. Shusha is no longer only Azerbaijan's cultural capital, but is also further strengthening its position as one of the influential platforms for global media dialogue," he said.

The forum participant said such events strengthen Azerbaijan's role as a reliable partner in the international information space and are of major strategic importance in terms of conveying the country's realities directly to the global media and developing media diplomacy.