FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL PRESS: A SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS IN THE HISTORICAL AND SPIRITUAL CONTEXT
Abstract. This article presents a scholarly analysis of the formation and developmental trajectory of the Azerbaijani national press within the his torical and spiritual context that emerged alongside the rising enlighten ment movement of the nineteenth century. The study systematically hi ghlights the decisive role of the press in awakening public consciousness, consolidating national identity, and expanding political thought. Particu lar emphasis is placed on the contribution of satirical journalism, which openly articulated socio-political issues and fostered an environment of public criticism. The principles governing the press during the Soviet period, along with the ideological limitations and constraints of information policy in that era, are examined through a scientific lens. In the post-inde pendence period, the article explores the new opportunities that emerged for the media, including the renewal of the information environment, the modernization of the media system, and the structural transformations within mass communication.
Keywords: national press, enlightenment, satirical press, information en vironment, national identity, press history, public thought.
