In brief
In Sofia, the Bulgarian News Agency staged a video‑connected launch of the November issue of LIK magazine, commemorating the 180th anniversary of the first Bulgarian newspaper, *Bulgarski Orel*. Lecturers from Sofia University and the magazine’s own leadership highlighted how early journalism helped forge national identity, freedom of speech, and governance oversight. The event underscored the enduring influence of print media on Western Balkan public life.
On Monday, November 9, 2026, the Bulgarian News Agency’s Maxim Hall in Sofia hosted a video‑link‑backed ceremony marking the opening of the November issue of LIK magazine. The publication focused on the 180th anniversary of Bulgaria’s first newspaper, *Bulgarski Orel*, and traced the evolution of print media across the country.
The launch drew representatives from BTA’s national press clubs, scholars from Sofia University, and members of the public, all connected through a live video feed that reached audiences across the country and abroad. Participants shared memories and insights on how the press shaped public dialogue during periods when Bulgaria was not yet an independent nation.
Legacy of the Bulgarian Press
Editor‑in‑Chief Georgi Lozanov opened the event by highlighting the link between the early press and Bulgaria’s 1878 liberation. He noted that journalism “directly contributed to the sense of self‑confidence that led to Bulgaria’s Liberation and later became associated with the concept of freedom and freedom of speech.” Lozanov added that the press provides a mechanism for public opinion to govern power in a democratic state, and that media development fosters governance open to civic oversight.
In a democratic state, public opinion governs those in power, while the development of the media makes it possible to create a new quality of governance that is subject to civic oversight.
Managing Director Yanitsa Hristova echoed Lozanov’s thoughts, explaining that BTA’s reporting reflects the ambition, dedication, and sense of mission that guided the nation’s first journalists, publishers, and printers. She described the early conditions as “difficult: Bulgaria was not a free country, while newspaper publishing and printing had already made significant advances and gained followers elsewhere in the world.”
BTA’s news reports offer a glimpse into the ambition, dedication and sense of mission with which the country's first journalists, publishers and printers embarked on their work. The conditions under which the Bulgarian press emerged were difficult: Bulgaria was not a free country, while newspaper publishing and printing had already made significant advances.
Professor Zdravka Konstantinova, a lecturer in the History of Bulgarian Journalism at Sofia University’s Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, presented a historical overview. She traced the beginnings of Bulgarian periodical publishing to 1842, when Konstantin Fotinov issued a trial edition of *Lyuboslovie*. She confirmed that the first newspaper, *Bulgarski Orel*, appeared in 1846 under Ivan Bogorov’s initiative. By September 9, 1944, Konstantinova said, Bulgarian periodicals had produced more than 10,000 titles.
Literary historian, critic, publicist and publisher Professor Albert Benbassat also spoke briefly, remarking on the cultural ripple effect that early print media had on Bulgarian society and its influence on later literary traditions.
The ceremony concluded with a collective reflection on the press’s enduring role in shaping national identity and promoting civic engagement. Attendees noted that the celebration reaffirmed print media’s place as a cornerstone of democratic discourse in Bulgaria, even as digital platforms rise.
