Kiril Valchev: Media are the teachers of today, higher salaries are needed

BTA reports on 2025: Digitalization, new press clubs, and a mission for the truth

The Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), Kiril Valchev, presented the institution's annual report to the National Assembly. A key focus of his speech was the call for a rethink of the budgetary policy regarding public media – BTA, BNR, and BNT.

"While schools teach how to apply the experience of yesterday, we learn about today from the media," Valchev emphasized.

He argued for the need to increase journalists' remuneration, pointing out that they play a key educational and informational role in modern society. According to him, their work should be valued appropriately, similar to the pay raises in the education sector.

Key achievements of BTA:

• Network expansion: Now 46 press clubs, 33 of which are within the territory of Bulgaria.
• International cooperation: Partnerships with over 50 news agencies around the world.
• Digital heritage: Over 5 million pages of archives since 1898 and 1.8 million photos have been processed.
• Cultural identity: The specialized "LIK" font has been created, developed by the National Academy of Art.

Valchev confirmed that the tradition of the World Meeting of Bulgarian Media will continue, with the next edition planned for Hungary to mark the 1080th anniversary of the passing of Saint Ivan of Rila.

In conclusion, the Director General highlighted that investment in the media is a guarantee that more Bulgarians will have access to the truth of today, quoting the classic author Ivan Vazov.