The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) released its November edition of the LIK magazine to honor the 180th anniversary of Bulgaria’s first newspaper, Bulgarski Orel, during a video‑linked launch at the agency’s Maxim Hall in Sofia. BTA’s coverage dates the event to Monday, 9 November 2026, whereas the agency’s own press release cites a launch on 11 November 2026, leaving the exact date unconfirmed.
The presentation, attended by BTA's national press clubs in Bulgaria and abroad, showcased the issue’s focus on the press’s role in fostering national identity, freedom of speech, and civic oversight. Speaking on behalf of BTA, Editor‑in‑Chief Georgi Lozanov highlighted how the development of the press was directly linked to the sense of self‑confidence that led to Bulgaria’s Liberation in 1878 and later became associated with freedom of speech. Lozanov added that public opinion, shaped by the media, ultimately governs those in power within a democratic state.
Managing Director Yanitsa Hristova noted that BTA’s reporting offers insight into the ambition and dedication of Bulgaria’s pioneering journalists, publishers, and printers. She pointed out that the press emerged under difficult conditions, as Bulgaria was not yet a free country when newspaper publishing and printing were gaining momentum worldwide.
Sofia University faculty member Prof. Zdravka Konstantinova underscored the state‑building role of Bulgarian journalism prior to Liberation, citing the publication of the trial issue of "Lyuboslovie" by Konstantin Fotinov in 1842 and the inaugural release of "Bulgarski Orel" in 1846 by Ivan Bogorov. Konstantinova further noted that by September 1944, Bulgarian periodical publishing had produced more than 10,000 titles.
Prof. Albert Benbassat, a literary historian and critic, also spoke at the event, though his remarks were not captured in the available sources.
