In brief
At a launch held via video link in Sofia’s Maxim Hall on 11 November 2026, LIK magazine’s November issue celebrated the 180th anniversary of the first Bulgarian newspaper, Bulgarski Orel. Speakers from BTA, Sofia University, and the press club noted how early journalists shaped public opinion and supported Bulgaria’s quest for liberation. The event highlighted the press’s foundational technological and civic contributions to the country’s development.
In a focused analysis presented via video link at BTA’s Maxim Hall in Sofia on 11 November 2026, the November issue of the Bulgarian News Agency’s LIK magazine marked the 180th anniversary of Bulgaria’s first newspaper, Bulgarski Orel, and offered a scholarly exploration of the press’s role in nation‑building.
Scientists in the humanities scene described print media as “media published in printed form.” The launch was attended by BTA’s national press clubs, both domestic and international, and drew listeners interested in how early presses served as a technological backbone for early Bulgarian society.
Event Highlights
LIK Editor‑in‑Chief Georgi Lozanov opened the program, underscoring the press’s link to national confidence. He argued that the emergence of the press directly fed into the sense of self‑confidence that, according to him, led to Bulgaria’s liberation in 1878, “and later became associated with the concept of freedom and freedom of speech.” He added that “people form opinions on important issues on the basis of the press and the media, and when these opinions converge, public opinion emerges.” He concluded that “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.”
“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,” said Georgi Lozanov.
Managing Director Yanitsa Hristova noted the adventurous spirit of Bulgaria’s earliest journalists. She described the conditions of the era: “Bulgaria was not a free country, while newspaper publishing and printing had already made significant advances and gained followers elsewhere in the world.” Hristova likened BTA’s news reports to a window on “the ambition, dedication and sense of mission” of the country's pioneering press.
“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 and gained followers elsewhere in the world,” said Yanitsa Hristova.
Professor Zdravka Konstantinova, a lecturer in the History of Bulgarian Journalism at Sofia University’s Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, contextualized early periodical publishing. She traced the beginnings to 1842, when Konstantin Fotinov released a trial issue of the magazine Lyuboslovie. According to her, the first Bulgarian newspaper, Bulgarski Orel, appeared in 1846, printed by Ivan Bogorov. By September 9, 1944, she noted, the Bulgarian media landscape had produced more than 10,000 periodicals.
“The beginnings of Bulgarian periodical publishing date back to 1842, when Konstantin Fotinov published a trial issue of the magazine _Lyuboslovie_. The first Bulgarian newspaper, _Bulgarski Orel_, was published in 1846 by Ivan Bogorov,” recalled Prof. Zdravka Konstantinova. “By September 9, 1944, Bulgarian periodical publishing had produced more than 10,000 titles.”
Literary historian, critic, publicist and publisher Prof. Albert Benbassat also contributed to the discussion, emphasizing the cultural significance of these early press artifacts.
Through this event, LIK magazine not only celebrated a historical milestone but also reaffirmed the enduring relationship between press technology and democratic governance. By tracing the evolution of print media from 19th‑century experimentation to mass circulation, the November issue offered a robust technical and cultural portrait of Bulgaria’s first newspaper and its lasting influence on public discourse.
