Some media representatives were presented with the jubilee medal "150th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press (1875–2025)", established by the relevant decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, APA reports.

It was announced at the event that jubilee medals will be presented to other awardees in the near future.

Jubilee medals were presented to Vusala Mahirgizi, Jahangir Mammadli, Mirshahin Aghayev, Flora Khalilzadeh, Gahira Huseynova, Gulu Maharramli and a number of others at the event.

The “APA Journalism School,” a project by APA Media Group, has launched its next training course starting today, APA reports.

The school’s trainers are Honored Journalist Gabil Abbasoğlu and the Vice-Rector of the Azerbaijan Television (AzTV) Academy, head of the Media and Information Literacy Center, Ph.D. Almaz Mahmud.

An opportunity for those who want to learn journalism

The Editor-in-Chief of APA Media Group, Nurshan Guliyev, noted that the main purpose of organizing the school is to create an opportunity for those who want to learn the secrets of journalism.

“Several students who proved themselves in the previous training course are currently collaborating with APA Media Group. We not only train the students and help develop their skills, but we also provide job opportunities. The main responsibility lies with you. The more disciplined you are and the more consistently you participate in the training, the more you will learn. The training has both theoretical and practical aspects. Everything has been arranged to help you learn and develop your knowledge and skills. At the end of the course, certificates will be awarded. This certificate will play a significant role in your biography. There are also those who have completed our training and are now working in other media organizations. You need to approach the training seriously. It is essential for your development and career-building. I should also mention that renowned professionals in the media field will also be involved in the training and will share their knowledge and expertise with you.”

Practical training and job opportunities

Gabil Abbasoğlu stated that 45% of the students who completed the previous training course of the APA Journalism School have been employed in various media organizations: “Our goal in creating the school is to introduce you to real journalism. Our first lesson is theoretical, an introduction to journalism with the aim of getting to know each other. I would like to emphasize that here, a real editorial environment will be created, and you will prepare news and reports based on real processes.”

Gabil Abbasoğlu stated that 186 people applied for this course: “You have been selected from among them. It is important to follow attendance and be responsible during the training process. If you want to become a journalist, we are facing a very challenging, serious, and also interesting period. You will take an important step in the field of journalism. We thank APA Media Group for creating this opportunity.”

Short-term schools compared to universities

Almaz Mahmud emphasized that the creation of the APA Journalism School is a great initiative: “I am very pleased that the APA Journalism School has been established. Previously, they said that a four-year bachelor’s degree was enough to learn journalism. But now, they say a three- or four-month school is sufficient. Such schools are now being compared to universities. One of them is the APA Journalism School.”

APA Journalism School

It is worth mentioning that the APA Journalism School began its operations in November of last year. A total of 26 people were selected for the 3-month training course, and 21 people graduated from the school.

As a reminder, the training sessions will be held three times a week according to a specific program. In addition to the permanent trainers at the APA Journalism School, well-known journalists, bloggers, and new media experts will share their experiences with the training participants each week.

APA Journalism School announces applications for the next training course.

Registration for the 3-month-long training program starts today. It will continue until 6:00 p.m. on April 22 and is free of charge.

The trainings will be held 3 times a week according to a specific program.

In addition to permanent instructors at APA Journalism School, well-known journalists, bloggers, and new media experts will share their experiences with participants each week.

Note that APA Media Group is one of the pioneers of online media in Azerbaijan. Many of the country’s well-known journalists began their careers at this company, and hundreds have worked at APA Media Group to date. Currently, the company employs dozens of experienced journalists and media professionals alongside young talents.

Training participants will also be given the opportunity to do internships and those displaying high results would be provided with employment opportunities at APA Media Group.

You can send your CV to the email address or WhatsApp number below:

[email protected]

070 712 72 73

Certificates were presented to the first graduates of the APA Journalism School project, which is a project of APA Media Group.

Vusala Mahirqizi: The APA Journalist School will continue

Vusala Mahirgizi, the General Director of APA Media Group, delivering speech at the event organized on this occasion, said that today 20 graduates will receive their certificates.

"During these three months, our goal was to take the first step in training journalists who can work with professional, operational, and new media standards. Of course, a journalist professionalizes through the experience they accumulate over the years, and their news base. However, taking the first steps in the right place and having the right opportunities for experience is crucial for a journalist, especially for a news journalist. This is often the step that determines a journalist's future development," Vusala Mahirgizi emphasized.

The General Director stated that out of the 20 participants in the project, 5 have already started working in the structures of APA Media Group, and two others have started working in other media organizations: "This makes us very happy. I am sure we will soon see the graduates of this project in various television, radio channels, agencies, and websites."

Vusala Mahirgizi expressed her gratitude to the head of the APA Journalism School,Gabil Abbasoghlu: "Gabil Abbasoghlu, as an experienced journalist, put in a great deal of effort in organizing this project. At the same time, experienced TV journalist Ilgar Alfi shared his experience regarding the organization of television work and TV journalism. During the training, valuable journalists and writers met with the participants and shared their experiences. As APA Media Group, we are grateful to all of them."

The General Director also announced that the next training sessions of the APA Journalist School will begin in April: "We will go on. There will be next graduates. I hope this school will be recognized by its hundreds of graduates."

Gabil Abbasoghlu: APA and I are always ready to support you

The head of the APA Journalist School, Qabil Abbasoghlu, congratulated the graduates: "You continued for these three months, and it means this project was also interesting for you. APA and I are always ready to support you."

Gabil Abbasoghlu reminded once again that journalism is a tough profession: "This project was my first teaching experience. We learned together with you, discussed, and worked on projects. We had interesting trainings and guests. I know that this experience will always be useful in your work. Always try to learn, this is very important for a journalist."

Advice to graduates: Always learn, research, and read

The instructor of the APA Journalism School, TV journalist Ilgar Alfi, also congratulated the graduates in his speech: "Every young person who participated here is like our child, and I am always ready to support you. I recommend carrying an important trait for journalists. In this brilliant profession, it is very important to be able to control your desire. Those who can do this will always exist."

Bahaddin Haziyev: Creating such school is APA’s right

The editor-in-chief of "Bizim Yol" newspaper, Bahaddin Haziyev, who held a master class for the participants, expressed his satisfaction with the establishment of such a school: "APA is already a school with its unique style. Many signatures have grown from APA, and creating such a school is APA’s right."

Bahaddin Haziyev stated that the main goal of education today should be teaching how to learn: "If you know the source to learn, learning is always possible and accessible. Here, you were taught about the ways of learning and researching."

Bahəddin Haziyev wished the graduates success and mentioned that he would participate in future training sessions as well.

Sharif Aghayar: You will not regret starting to learn here

Writer Sharif Aghayar, who taught the secrets of editing and held a master class at the journalism school, also congratulated the graduates: "I am sure that in the future, you will not regret that your path began at APA and that you started learning here," said Sharif Aghayar, adding that there is a news environment and professional, systematic news work."

"This systematic work also leads to successful results," said the writer, wishing success to the graduates of the school.

Konul Jafarli: I wish every young journalist that their path would cross APA

Journalist Konul Jafarli, who conducted a training on TV journalism for the graduates, expressed her satisfaction with being part of this school: "I wish every young journalist that their path would cross APA. I say this not only as a instructor but also as someone who has gone through this school.

In APA, the conditions for a journalist’s development and the opportunity to express oneself are very rare to find elsewhere."

Rovshana Aghasafgizi: I found the young participants here very bright

TV journalist Rovshana Aghasafgizi also congratulated the young graduates in her speech: "It was very nice for me to work with young people again. I found the young participants here very bright. I wish you all success in your careers."

Rovshane Aghasefgizi advised the graduates to read a lot, to study, to constantly search, and to research.

"If the news had a signature, that signature would be "APA"

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Ilkin Naib said that he has already started working as an employee at the APA Information Agency. He thanked APA Media Group for providing him with such an opportunity.

"If the news had a signature, that signature would be "APA,"" said Ilkin Naib, sharing his observations both from the training sessions and the work environment: "Here, everyone tries to teach. When you want to learn from someone, you receive enthusiastic support. This environment makes you fall in love with journalism."

Nurshan Guliyev: Know that you have a home named APA

Nurshan Guliyev, the editor-in-chief of APA Media Group, talked about the goals of creating the school and congratulated the graduates: "There were certain risks in creating this school. It's a great thing that most of the listeners who joined from the first day continued until the end."

Nurshan Guliyev noted that many journalists have crossed their path with APA so far.: "We hope that the listeners of this school will reach such positions in the future that we can be proud of. Until today, a large number of journalists have crossed their path with APA. Among them are those working in state affairs and those who are now editors-in-chief at other websites. We are proud of all of them. We hope that you will also be among those remembered in this army."

Nurshan Guliyev stated that APA is always ready to support its listeners in their future careers: "Wherever you are, always know that you have a home named APA. We are always ready to support you."

Certificates were then presented to the graduates.

Note that the trainings lasted for three months.

The General Director of APA Media Group Vusala Mahirgizi, the Editor-in-Chief of APA Media Group Nurshan Guliyev, the Editor-in-Chief of APA Information Agency Farid Mirzayev, editors of APA Information AgencyRamiz Mikayiloghlu, Mirmehdi Aghaoghlu, and Nigar Abbasova, the Director of APA TV Orkhan Mammadli, the Director of Norma Law Firm and lawyer Shamil Pashayev, the Editor-in-Chief of Lent.az portal Hafiz Heydarov, editor of Lent.az portal Azar Huseynbala, the Editor-in-Chief of Vesti.az portal Nijat Hajiyev, TV journalists Konul Jafarli, Rovshana Aghasifqizi, Almaz Mahmud, Kamran Gasimov, journalist Bahaddin Hazi, writer Sharif Aghayar, the multi-media editor of APA Information Agency Vugar Abishov, and marketing specialists Tural Rustamli and Muzaffar Qarakhanli shared their experiences with the training participants and gave them masterclasses.