site.btaUPDATED BTA’s Book Recognized by Union of Bulgarian Journalists

The Bulgarian New Agency (BTA) received an award by the Union of Bulgarian Journalists for a collection of news items from each year in the agency’s 125-year long history. Its title is 125 years of Bulgarian News Agency. News on File: 1898-2023.

The ceremony at which the Union of Bulgarian Journalists conferred its annual awards for 2024 took place at the Bulgarian National Radio on Saturday.

Milena Georgieva, senior editor at the agency and co-author, accepted the award on behalf of BTA. The award was presented to her by Snezhana Todorova, Chair of the Board of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists.

Georgieva talked about the whole process of compiling the book, which took two years, and thanked all her colleagues at BTA for the nomination. She said it was a great recognition for the work of the team. The idea for the book, dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the news agency, came from BTA Director General Kiril Valchev. "The book compiles the work of all the reporters, correspondents and translators who have worked during these 125 years. One event from Bulgaria and the world has been selected for each year," said Milena Georgieva. She stressed that in their work they found it difficult to choose the event to represent the respective year. That is why the authors identified several events from which to make the choice, Georgieva noted. She noted the contribution of all colleagues at the agency who had made efforts to select the important events over the years.

In 2023 BTA celebrated the 125th anniversary of its first bulletin, written and signed by its first director Oscar Iskander on February 16, 1898. As it did 125 years ago, BTA still collects, processes, stores and disseminates information on political, economic, social, cultural, scientific and sports events in Bulgaria and abroad.

One of BTA's main goals is to store and preserve the archives of its news broadcasts that carry the memory of Bulgaria. To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Agency, the idea of publishing a book was born, which would tell the history of the Agency in the period from 1898 to 2023, its structure, organization and the personalities who led it. The original intention was for the book to be a single volume, but as work progressed, more and more material became available, and to be as comprehensive as possible about BTA's history, the book became a three-part series.

The Grand Prize of the Union of Bulgarian Journalists named after Joseph Herbst was awarded to 97-year-old Pencho Chernaev - journalist, writer, literary critic, editor, translator and local historian.

“Perhaps my advanced age has made many of you think about your life and existence, about the past, because the time of reckoning is coming,” said Chernaev during the presentation of the. “I have done what I could for these years. I could have done more, but it depends on what God has given me and the opportunities,” said the doyen of Bulgarian journalism. “On behalf of all those awarded today, I thank you for the attention, respect and honour,” said Chernaev.