I. Introduction This master’s thesis represents study of female newspaper and magazine editors in Azerbaijan based on Western and Soviet definitions of journalism with explanation of local national features of this p

III.1.6 Female editors and their role in Azerbaijani society

Majority of the editors believe that their objective is to control the process of information flow and filter news that the society deserves to know. Editors of government-funded newspapers are convinced that their objective is to inform public of the good that the nation achieved under current regime. Female editors of semi-independent newspapers tend to assume neutral position in media coverage with the balance swinging towards oblivion of systematic faults of the ruling regime. And no female dares to take a lead in oppositional newspaper and become a target for prosecution. Such unanimity in regime’s support and dwindling circulation numbers cause low influence of the selected newspapers in Azerbaijani society.

Partially that can also be derived from answers to question if editors consider themselves elite. According to our data, feelings of own exclusiveness are stronger among experienced editors that work in mass media over 20 years and especially among the oldest category. F.X. editor with 40 years of experience:

In Soviet times to be an editor was considered to hold a really important office since there was a good chance to be appointed as a head of regional committee, a minister or a deputy minister or other high ranking post. For example, I remember that people who worked as department editors in Communist newspaper already knew, that they are in a special list and their future is going to be cloudless.

N.M. who spent 39 years working as a journalist in Vyshka newspaper reminiscently adds that journalists during the Soviet period were often called the fourth power and in fact regarded themselves to be the forth power. Even though majority of our interviewees still consider themselves elite members there were several voices that portrait another reality and we feel compelled to voice in our report. N.Y. who previously worked in an oppositional newspaper Yeni Musavat rejects the idea that editors in Azerbaijan can even aspire to be an elite

In countries like Azerbaijan, where there is no democratic rule we cannot acquire place according to our skills but we are placed somewhere by the ruling power. Even if you are educated and intelligent you will not be able to become elite unless the ruling class will create an opportunity for you. You can be several heads above them in terms of your knowledge, analytical skills, intellect and still have a low welfare and be an outcast. And that is why I think that only government newspaper editors are elite since the ruling regime accepts them and gives them opportunity to execute their authority. Others lack those opportunities.

The theme of low welfare of journalists is highlighted by another interviewee. I.T. is not so negative as N.Y. but notes that there are financial issues that disqualifies editors from elite status.

You know, journalists in general in Azerbaijan belong rather to poor class than elite. We write about troubles of other but have our own problems. Journalists are at the best the medium class and do not belong to elites in the light of their life conditions. In the rest of the world journalism in a business – look at foreign newspapers or TV stations but our advertisement market is not formed and that is why we cannot speak of any money in the business.

Thus we may conclude that since majority of the selected female editors started their career in a realm of the Soviet Union and spent more than 20 years in the profession they consider and are considered by society to be representatives of the elite. However, their financial status, with an exception of few lucky ones to be offered job in government-run media outlets is rather of the middle class. In context of Azerbaijan, as pointed out I.T. editors can be highly influential if they were accepted by the ruling elite or directly work in a newspaper/magazine that belongs to that elite. Others could face ignorance or even prosecution if their newspaper voices ideas undermining stability of political system installed after 1994.