site.btaFebruary 4, 2022: BTA Opens Its First Press Club in Neighbouring Country

On February 4, 2022, the day that marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of revolutionary Gotse Delchev, BTA officially opened its National Press Club in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia – the first in a neighboring country to Bulgaria.

BTA's correspondent there is journalist Marinela Velichkova, whose professional career has been previously focused on reporting and analyzing the processes in the Balkans as a journalist for two national media outlets – Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Darik Radio. As a journalist at BNR's Blagoevgrad branch, she conducted the first live radio bridge between Skopje and Blagoevgrad, shortly after Bulgaria recognized the independence of North Macedonia in 1992.

BTA's press clubs are an integral part of the agency's policy. They serve as a preferred venue for communication between media and representatives of business, politics, culture, and sports. Press conferences, discussions, exhibitions, and other events are organized in these clubs, providing a platform for institutions, organizations, and citizens to share messages and announce news from the region. Through BTA, this information reaches a national audience and, through the English-language broadcast, extends abroad. All press clubs are equipped with audio-visual technology and modern facilities, offering the option for live online broadcasting.

As of February 4, 2025, BTA has opened a total of 41 national press clubs, including in all regional cities and five in non-regional cities. The opening of BTA press clubs abroad continues the agency's policy of establishing media hubs in all neighboring countries, as well as in countries with large Bulgarian communities.

BTA has also opened a press club at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in Antarctica. Additionally, a temporary press club of the agency was established on board the first Bulgarian research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii (RSV 421).