Vüsalə Mahirqızı

Vusale Mahirqizi is one of Azerbaijan's leading media executives, media entrepreneurs, and journalists. She is recognized as the first female journalist to establish a media holding in Azerbaijan, one of the pioneers of the country's digital news industry, and a prominent figure in the development of Azerbaijan's modern media ecosystem.

She began her journalism career in 1996 and rapidly advanced from reporter to senior editorial leadership positions within Azerbaijan's leading newspapers. At the age of 22, she became the country's youngest female Editor-in-Chief and served as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of "Xalq Cebhesi", Azerbaijan's first newspaper to launch as a daily publication from its very first issue.

In 2004, she founded the Azeri-Press Agency (APA), pioneering a new era of internet journalism and digital news production in Azerbaijan. APA became one of the country's first digital-first news agencies and the first major national news agency to publish primarily in the Azerbaijani language, fundamentally transforming the way news was produced, distributed, and consumed. Under her leadership, APA became one of Azerbaijan's most frequently cited independent news organizations and a leading source of reliable national news.

Over the following years, she led the creation of several influential media brands, including "APASport", "Lent.az", "Vesti.az", "Kulis.az", and "APA TV". These platforms have made significant contributions to the development of sports journalism, online media, television broadcasting, literature, arts, and digital publishing, and today rank among Azerbaijan's most recognized media brands.

Beyond building media organizations, Vusale Mahirqizi has made a lasting contribution to the development of journalism education in Azerbaijan. She founded the "APA School of Journalism", which provides practical newsroom training for aspiring journalists. Over the years, numerous editors-in-chief, communications executives, press secretaries, television journalists, and media professionals working in Azerbaijan's leading media organizations, government institutions, and private companies have begun their careers at APA. Today, APA Media Group is widely recognized as one of the country's leading institutions for developing professional talent in news and online television journalism.

Vusale Mahirqizi has also played a significant role in strengthening Azerbaijan's media institutions. She was the youngest and the only female member of the Organizing Committee of the First Congress of Azerbaijani Journalists. Later, she became the first and only woman elected to the Executive Board of the Press Council of Azerbaijan during its Third Congress. She currently serves as a member of the Executive Board and as Chair of the Press Council's Commission on Language Issues.

In addition to her executive leadership, Vusale Mahirqizi is the creator and producer of numerous documentary films, television projects, and books. Her work focuses on history, the Armenia–Azerbaijan conflict, cultural heritage, environmental issues, social responsibility, and public awareness. She has also served as the official academic reviewer of a university textbook on journalism currently used by the Faculty of Journalism at Baku State University.

An active participant in international media cooperation, Vusale Mahirqizi is a member of the Coordination Council of the Media Platform of Turkic-Speaking Countries and Communities, the Azerbaijan National Committee of the "International Press Institute (IPI)", and the "International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF)". As an official representative of IEPF, she was accredited through the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC) to participate in meetings and events at United Nations Headquarters in New York. She has also participated in international forums organized by the United Nations, the OSCE, and the Council of Europe, collaborated with the U.S.-based geopolitical intelligence organization Stratfor, and published articles in international media outlets including Anadolu Agency and "Hürriyet Daily News". Under her leadership, APA Media Group was selected as an Official Media Partner of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).

In recognition of her outstanding contributions to journalism and media development, Vusale Mahirqizi has received several of Azerbaijan's highest state and professional honors, including the honorary title "Honored Journalist of the Republic of Azerbaijan", the "Progress Medal (Tərəqqi Medal)", the "100th Anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic Medal", the "Supreme Media Award" of the Press Council of Azerbaijan, "Certificate of Recognition" for her contribution to the successful organization of "COP29". In 2025, she was awarded the "150th Anniversary of Azerbaijani National Press" Jubilee Medal in recognition of her long-standing contributions to the development of journalism in Azerbaijan.

Today, as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of APA Media Group, Vusale Mahirqizi leads the company's long-term strategic vision. Under her leadership, APA Media Group has evolved beyond the traditional news agency model into a diversified media and information company operating across journalism, television, digital platforms, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and content licensing, positioning itself as one of Azerbaijan's leading media groups.