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Book on 125 years of BTA's news writing

BTA Director General: "Panayot Denev Is Part of My Personal Story and of BTA's History"

Tatiana Marinova, Vanya Suharova
BTA Director General: "Panayot Denev Is Part of My Personal Story and of BTA's History"
BTA Director General: "Panayot Denev Is Part of My Personal Story and of BTA's History"
BTA Director General Kiril Valchev at the presentation of a book in English titled "125 Years Bulgarian News Agency. The Real News: Stories On File 1989–2023" at BTA's National Press Club, Sofia, October 15, 2025 (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)
Sofia,  
15.10.2025 20:11
 (BTA)
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A book in English, documenting the Bulgarian News Agency's news-writing operation during its first 125 years, was press-launched at the BTA National Press Club in Sofia on Wednesday. The 80th birthday of Panayot Denev, BTA Director General from 1997 to 2002, who wrote the preface to the book and adapted the Bulgarian text for a foreign readership, was also marked during the event.

Speaking at the event, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev said that Denev has been present in many important moments in his life. "He is part of my story as well, not only of the story of the Agency," Valchev noted.

"I looked back at the period when Denev headed BTA - the same role I hold today. Under Denev's leadership, BTA's Our Rules were established and remain at the core of our work. He also reorganized the Agency's departments. Salaries are the ever relevant subject. Back then, they were about USD 30–40 [a month]. What matters, I've learned, is the perception, because no matter how much people are paid, some still feel as if it's USD 30 or 40," Valchev said.

He recalled that it was Denev who concluded the BTA's first agreement on cooperation and news exchange with the Macedonian Information Agency (now Medium Information Agency).

Valchev noted that earlier this year another former BTA Director General, Ivo Indzhev, celebrated his 70th birthday. Valchev recalled that Indzhev had discontinued the confidential news bulletins and introduced several new publications, including English-language ones. "We still sell Daily News [BTA's English-language newsletter], which was first launched in 1992. We build on what has already been achieved. The important thing is not thinking that everything starts with us," the Director-General pointed out.

He explained that the publication that was press-launched on Wednesday contains 250 news stories preserved in BTA's archives - one domestic and one international, for each of the agency’s 125 years.

The English version of the publication, titled 125 Years Bulgarian News Agency. The Real News. Stories on File: 1989-2023, was produced by Lyubomir Gigov and was edited by Nikolay Zabov, who are managing editors at BTA's External News Service Directorate.

/LG/

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By 23:09 on 16.10.2025 Today`s news

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