site.btaBTA Director General Presents Agency's 2024 Report to Parliamentary Culture and Media Committee

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev presented his Agency's 2024 report to the Parliamentary Culture and Media Committee here on Thursday, which it approved unanimously with 12 votes in favour. 

Valchev noted that he had set five strategic goals for his five-year term—freedom, truth, knowledge, community, and memory. 

Freedom

BTA's chief stated that 2024 is the third consecutive year in which access to BTA's news is free. Last year, additional measures were taken to ensure the security of servers and domains.

He noted that thanks to BGN 2 million allocated in the state budget for 2024 by Parliament, BTA now has two correspondents in each region of the country, with the exception of three regions that still lack a second correspondent. Additional editors were also hired.

Valchev recalled that in 1986, BTA employed the highest number of staff – 670. In 1991, it was 550; in 2001 – 390; in 2010 – 298; and in 2020 – 226 employees. "This didn’t allow for regional coverage – there was just one correspondent per region – nor did it allow for a proper 24-hour news cycle," he explained. In 2024, BTA employs 348 people, not including the 38 temporarily hired staffers under the Recovery and Resilience Plan for digitalizing archives. According to Valchev, the optimal staff number is 400, including correspondents in Bulgaria and abroad, as well as senior editors in the Home News and International News departments to ensure full 24-hour coverage – which currently only the International News desk maintains. Thanks to the additional editors in Home News, coverage now runs from 7:00 a.m. to midnight – five more hours compared to 2020, when shifts ran from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. New senior editors have also been appointed in the newly formed desks: Balkans, Economy, LIK (Culture), and BGWorld.

Valchev shared that as of January 1, 2021, the average salary at BTA was BGN 1,130 (excluding bonuses and seniority class). Currently, the average is BGN 1,890 – a 70% increase between 2021 and 2024, during a period when inflation was 31.6%. Correspondents earn an average of BGN 1,700, and reporters BGN 2,040. All employees receive over BGN 2,000 with bonuses and class, which is above the national average but considered low for Sofia. Valchev also noted a point-based system for salary increases: BTA employees receive BGN 100 for each foreign language they work with, capped at two languages due to budgetary constraints. An additional BGN 100 is added to the salaries of those working on a 24/7 schedule or on emergency call duty.

He noted that since 2021, BTA has been working on eight projects supported by the European Commission or the European Parliament, under which staff receive an additional BGN 100 to BGN 500 per month.

Valchev pointed out that 82% of BTA’s budget goes to personnel – salaries, vouchers, and bonuses. Only 1% is for capital investments, and the remaining 17% is operational costs, including 4% for covering events in Bulgaria and abroad. Cutting these would render BTA’s work pointless, he argued.

Kiril Valchev highlighted the challenge of recruiting when other sectors receive budget increases of 25% or even 50%. He urged that public media salaries be aligned with those of teachers – if not this year, then at least there should be a clear indication. “It’s difficult to tell a newly appointed regional correspondent that their salary is much lower than what they’d earn as a teacher (BGN 2,900), or in PR roles, which pay even more,” said Valchev.

“I’ve painted a picture that shows the Bulgarian State cares for BTA and its people. There is growth, but when compared to other sectors, it looks distorted,” he added.

Thanks to the hiring of second correspondents across the country, regional news publications increased from 16,000 in 2023 to over 25,000 in 2024 – a 63% rise, despite staggered hiring over the year.

Valchev said BTA now covers every municipal council session in-depth. In 2024, BTA deployed 30 electric vehicles to its regional correspondents and Sofia reporters.

The external elevator, built in 2023, was launched into operation in 2024 at BTA's building in Sofia, which is part of the improved access to the building's National Press Club on the fourth floor, including ramps for the disabled, he noted. 

Valchev reaffirmed BTA’s policy of only accepting funding from the state budget or organizations where Bulgaria is a member.

A testament to BTA’s freedom and independence is its equal membership in MINDS International, a network of 25 leading global news agencies collaborating on digital media innovation.

Truth

BTA’s new website and workflow ensure a clear separation between press releases and journalistic content. In 2024, official statements sent and published by BTA increased by 20%, from 22,716 in 2023 to 27,307. About 230 out of a total of 850 institutions and organizations submitted press releases for the first time – a 27% growth.

While the number of news stories hasn't increased drastically, their quality has improved. In 2020–2021, many stories had no photos; now each includes a photo gallery. “My ambition is to include video with every story,” said Valchev. Infographics were also introduced. BTA now has a presence on seven social media platforms, he said, adding that he sees social media not as a place for debate – since users aren’t always identified – but as a channel for disseminating real news.

Knowledge

Valchev said BTA maintains traditional segments and creates new ones. “This time, we used the European election budget to send correspondents to every EU country.”

Partnership agreements have been signed with national news agencies for free daily exchanges of one news item and photo. Agreements have also been made with universities and institutions to provide copyright-cleared content. The LIK department manages over 100 such contracts. Valchev aims to publish weekly news from every partner university.

With new correspondents in regional centers, BTA now regularly reports on religious life across Bulgaria and from diaspora communities, particularly Orthodox Christian events, in line with Bulgaria’s constitutionally recognized traditional faith. Other religious holidays and events are also covered.

The LIK magazine resumed monthly publication in 2022. In 2024, 12 regular issues were published – three in English: “The Bulgarian Trace in Space,” “Bulgarian Science in Antarctica” (also in Spanish), and “155 Years of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.” A new issue on Bulgaria’s participation in World Expos was published in Bulgarian and Japanese. During the Osaka Expo, students learning Bulgarian took both versions to aid their studies.

Since January 2024, the magazine is available for free online. BTA also sends over 300 printed copies to libraries, universities, and cultural institutions at its own expense.

Community

Valchev announced that on May 24, Sofia will host the 20th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media, organized by BTA. Last year’s meeting was held in Ukraine – in Odesa, Bolhrad, and Izmail. Over 150,000 Bulgarians live in Odesa region, making them the third-largest ethnic group. These events support those communities while also providing them with news access. Similar activities were held in BTA’s press clubs in Taraclia (Moldova).

Memory

Valchev informed MPs about BTA’s initiative to place commemorative plaques for notable Bulgarians in journalism and literature. Plaques have been installed for writer Aleko Konstantinov in Odesa (at his university), and poet Atanas Dalchev in Thessaloniki (his birthplace). In 2024, BTA received permission to move writer and revolutionary Lyuben Karavelov’s plaque in Belgrade to a more visible spot, with plans for more memorials.

He said BTA, the Bulgarian National TV, and Bulgarian National Radio launched the “14 Centuries of Bulgaria in Europe” initiative. In 2032, Bulgaria will mark 1,400 years since the establishment of its first state entity on European territory – a reminder that Bulgaria’s European presence far predates its EU membership. As part of this, a calendar was produced.

BTA published the third volume of a book series marking its 125th anniversary, featuring one story from Bulgaria and the world for each year.

The Agency’s archives were relocated to climate-controlled premises in 2023. About 35% of the photos and many bulletins have been digitized.

The newsroom has been renovated to meet European standards, including a new reading room and information center. Two bomb shelters were also refurbished.

Valchev announced the ongoing renovation of the space in front of the BTA building. A project for BGN 6 million is awaiting approval in June. Following new lighting, the plan is to create a small “World of News” park.

With help from the National Academy of Arts, BTA created the LIK font, using Bulgarian Cyrillic. "It’s absurd for the country that created the Cyrillic alphabet to use fonts made for other scripts. With the Academy's strong support, we made our own," he said.