[4]The Media Advancement Project for Azerbaijan works to make news and information available to Azerbaijan’s citizens through print, broadcast, and emerging media technologies. Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Media Advancement Project brings cutting edge technology and training to citizen journalists, bloggers, and professional journalists.
• Spearhead the development of regional community internet access, content creation, and dissemination
• Promote usage of new media tools to empower more content producers and information consumers
• Monitor and defend the emerging new media information space from government encroachment
Support f.y.i. Community Information Centers (CIC): At the end of the Media Advancement Project for Azerbaijan, IREX will have built and supported 12 centers throughout Azerbaijan. All the centers regularly offer basic training courses on computer and Internet use, as well as instruction on how to use software like Microsoft Word, Excel, and email. Each CIC hosted myriad events over the reporting period, including the following: discussions on assisting victims of the earthquake in Haiti, roundtable discusions about women’s role in society and other gender-related issues, training in citizen journalism, seminars on environmental issues, discussions on Novruz traditions, and training sessions for students, teachers, and unemployed youth.
Strengthen print distribution company: With IREX support and technical assistance, Gaya, an independent print distribution company based in Baku, expanded its area of operations into the regions; sales and revenue grew.
Television network and programming support: IREX supported the formation of a regional television network and provided commercial programming for the affiliate stations. “Heroes of Azerbaijan” was launched and was broadcast on regional television stations; the program highlights work of ordinary Azerbaijani citizens who have made positive contributions to their communities.
Exposure to open debate: IREX also brought the 2008 U.S. presidential and vice-presidential debates to Azerbaijan (broadcast on Ictimaj, Azerbaijan’s public broadcaster), and for the first time Azerbaijani citizens saw firsthand open political debate in the context of the U.S. presidential elections.
media@irex.org [5]