The Baku Business Center hosted on Friday a conference on the theme "New trends in modern media: information security and professionalism criteria."

Organized by the Azerbaijan Press Council, the event brought together the Board Members of the Press Council, management of the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency, as well as heads and editors-in-chief of various media outlets.

Chairman of the Press Council Rashad Majid, Head of the Department of the Presidential Administration Elmir Valizade and Executive Director of the Media Development Agency Ahmad Ismayilov addressed the conference, sharing their views on the topic. The speakers highlighted President Ilham Aliyev's remarks regarding certain international circles’ waging an information war and ideological war against Azerbaijan. It was mentioned that journalists should respond adequately to such calls, information sabotage designed to disrupt stability and security in Azerbaijan, and should always act promptly based on professionalism and sensitivity.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the Council, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism of Baku State University Vugar Zifaroglu spoke about the information war waged against Azerbaijan within a political-ideological framework and the media's role in safeguarding the information security of society.

Mushfiq Alasgarli, Board Member the Press Council, Head of the Journalists' Trade Union, highlighted the strategies, as well as administrative and legal frameworks for countering disinformation.

Other speakers at the event included Board Members of the Press Council Farid Pardashunas and Hajibey Heydarli, Nursharaf Taghiyeva and Sunbul Zalova, PhD students of the Faculty of Journalism of Baku State University.

Following the discussions on the topic, the Azerbaijan Press Council presented its recommendations to media outlets. The recommendations highlighted the importance of strict adherence to the "Rules of Ethical Conduct for Azerbaijani Journalists," promoting increased news production, leveraging the advantages of new media such as agility and interactivity, adapting to modern technological changes, and acknowledging new trends, particularly in Western journalism. They also emphasized the need to uphold the standards of the Azerbaijani language, enhance the quality of translated content, and carefully verify the accuracy of information published on social networks.