NEWSWEEK OF SOUTH CAUCUSES

Great things are being done here, in this cosy place, where every person is close to each other. This thought occurred to everyone when a small but very cheerful staff of the analytical magazine Region Plus got together for a photo shoot dedicated to its 10-year anniversary. There was a certain discord in the mind - how can it be? How come that each of these ordinary people, who sometimes look like children, is so intellectually savvy that they can forecast, in their analytical articles, what global cataclysms are in store for us or baffle a serious opponent by putting, without false modesty, a brilliant question during an interview?

It was very difficult to gather everybody at one time for the photo shoot. Firstly, because the R+ team does not like to show off (though 10 years is still a reason), and secondly, because such is the life of journalists - they could hardly squeeze this appointment into their busy schedules. After all, they do a lot of things along the way: they run on editorial assignments, pursue their journalistic investigations they have not yet told the editorial board about, pick up their children from school, possibly make an appointment for an interview, and only then they return to the premises of their beloved magazine. It is like a home, where you see dear faces every day. Here you can always find encouragement, support and sympathy if something suddenly goes wrong. This is a place many are craving for - a job that offers moral satisfaction and positive emotions which you can bring home, a place where journalists live their lives.

It is hard to believe that already 10 years have passed since the release of the first issue of our magazine on 16 February 2006. Time goes very quickly. What can we say? An anniversary birthday deserves special solemnity and attention. It is a joy and a responsibility at the same time, because any anniversary, even the smallest one, makes one look back and ask:

What has been accomplished?

In a short time, the magazine has managed to win great reader recognition both in Azerbaijan and abroad. According to the words of one of the foreign journalists who visited the editorial board, Region Plus has turned into a Newsweek of the South Caucasus. Simply put, the magazine has become the region's only weekly analytical edition published in three languages. People with relevant knowledge in the field wonder how such a publication can be produced by a small professional staff of some 15-20 persons. Furthermore, the quality of Region Plus is not much different from the known world counterparts. This is why the magazine is in high demand.

On the ground, in the skies and on the web

It was nice to learn a few years ago that the state company AZAL, which also distributes Region Plus on its international flights, had asked for several hundred extra copies for its passengers. How pleasing it is to hear foreign diplomats, higher school teachers and students, lawmakers and officials say that they use analytical materials from the magazine in their everyday activity. We can also see steady demand for the magazine at large business centres in Baku, such as Port Baku, Landmark and others. 

Numerous responses from its readers are evidence that there is great interest in Region Plus, and so are diplomas and certificates awarded to the magazine both by state and private agencies, as well as the diplomatic corps. By the way, quite recently, Region Plus received a Diploma from the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Azerbaijan "For Contribution to the Coverage and Support of Russian-Azerbaijani Relations". 

We are proud of the fact that the country’s leadership also takes notice of the services of our journalists. Region’s members of staff are among those awarded medals by President Ilham Aliyev and those who have been given flats in the apartment block for journalists.

Over these years, the magazine has gathered many thousands of readers and won recognition in journalistic circles, and not only in Azerbaijan. Well-known Russian and Turkish journalists and columnists have published their articles and comments on the pages of the magazine. 

The Region Plus website traffic statistics also show that the magazine is in great demand. Now that there is little interest in serious reading among the masses, having some 20,000 regular readers on the web is not a small figure for an analytical publication in Azerbaijan. The website guests are mostly readers from Azerbaijan and Russia. Geographically, the electronic version has audiences in some 45-50 countries worldwide, including the USA and Europe. Thousands of users in many countries also keep an eye on Region Plus' pages in social networks for updates. These include well-known politicians and political scientists, influential foreign media, research centres and expert forums. 

Standings

Region Plus is also actively involved in information support of major international events held in Azerbaijan. To this end, in 2012, the magazine published a special large issue dedicated to the international song contest Eurovision 2012. The special issue gained so much popularity among the guests of the music contest that there were not enough copies left for editorial needs. There was even greater demand for three special editions of Region Plus devoted to the First European Games and distributed in cooperation with the Operation Committee in the Athletes Village and the Media Village. According to information from the Operation Committee, the editions were in high demand, especially with foreign journalists. This list will soon include the coverage of the European Grand Prix of the Formula 1 Motor Racing Championship to be held in Baku for the first time on 17 July 2016.  

Always willing to share!

We rest assured that a serious media outlet, even in today's realities, can and must be interesting and, I dare say, exciting. Although we can boast a history of only 10 years, we are always happy to share what we have: our experience, energies and inexhaustible desire to become better for our audience. For us, this anniversary is an occasion to enjoy all the good things that we have gained by today: experience, recognition, supporters and faithful friends, and a strong reputation in and beyond the region. All our attainments will serve as a basis for further development and our faults will drop out along the way to make room for something new.