Tbilisi. Representatives of ''Transparency International Georgia'' conducted a training for journalists, where during two days they were sharing with them practical knowledge of how open data can be used. This knowledge will help participants develop investigative journalism skills. Read more… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On March 16, 2018, Public Defender Nino Lomjaria introduced Zviad Devdariani as a candidate for a membership of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster in accordance with Article 26 of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting. ''According to the Public Defender, the competition has revealed a lot of worthy candidates, which creates good grounds for staffing the Board of Trustees with principled and critical persons who are committed to values. When making this difficult decision, the Public Defender took into account the challenges faced by the Public Broadcaster and considered that Zviad Devdariani, who is a brave, qualified and motivated person, will be able to perform his duties thoroughly and worthily over the next 6 years; he will be able to influence the decision-making process and in case of deficiencies, including in relation to the use of budgetary resources, will timely provide information to the public'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: ombudsman.ge

Tbilisi. According to the information released by the Gender Informational Portal, a committee for selection of members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster selected 12 out of 14 applicants for trustees and submitted the list to the Parliament. ''According to the procedure, the Parliament will eventually elect four trustees of the Broadcaster out of 12 applicants'' – is stated on the website. Read more... Source:ginsc.net

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers Association responds to a decision made by the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster in regard to Zviad Ratiani. ''On March 1, 2018, the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster changed its position stated in a newscast of a program ''Moambe'' and did not satisfy a complaint of Zviad Ratiani. GYLA considers that the written decision does not meet even minimum standards necessary for decision making'' – is noted in the statement released by the organization. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. With the help of GYLA, Radio ''Hereti'' won a court hearing against the Communications Regulatory Commission. The Tbilisi City Court abolished the National Communications Commission decision, according to which a competition on a radio frequency, announced in the Batumi City, was canceled. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics publishes guidelines on inviolability of private life. ''Inviolability of private life of all humans is protected. That is why the tenth principle of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics separates it – ''A journalist should respect privacy of a person and must not intrude upon private life unless there is a particular public interest''. Read more... Source:qartia.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association has complained against the authority of the municipal assembly that allows to dismiss a Mayor after 6 months from elections on the ground of distrust. ''By unjustified dismissal of a Mayor, elected by people through direct elections, the Assembly violates rights of both a person who holds a Mayor position and voters who elected this person to the position'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On February 16, there was held a roundtable on the latest challenges of media, which was organized by the "Coalition for Media Advocacy”, "Transparency International Georgia” and the "Open Society Georgia Foundation”. The meeting was attended by representatives of media and expert groups, the Georgian National Communications Regulatory Commission, the Office of Public Defender, USA and European diplomatic missions. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association addresses the National Communications Commission against the Public Broadcaster. LEPL Public Broadcaster refused to broadcast a social advertisement prepared by the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association aiming at informing population about the necessity of amendments to the Code of Offences, adopted in 1984. Mentioned normative act does not meet the requirements of a fair process and entails violation of fundamental rights of a number of individuals every day. The Public Broadcaster is obliged to provide free of charge and nondiscriminatory at least 60 seconds in 1 hour to a social advertisement submitted by interested individuals for broadcasting purposes” – is noted in the statement of GYLA. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations to this statement, are extremely concerned about the deep institutional crisis the Georgian Public Broadcaster is in. ''Public trust towards the broadcaster is critically low, while it keeps receiving increasing funding from the state budget. Unfortunately, the Public Broadcaster fails to serve the interests of the public, is unable to fulfill its legal role; and acts instead as a media organization that is in service of political party interests'', is noted in a joint statement. Read more... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. RFE/RL head office responds to open letter sent by Georgian civil society organizations with regards to recent developments around the Georgian service of the radio. As the letter signed by Thomas Kent, the president says, radio plans accelerating use of digital platforms on top of developing new content and journalistic capabilities. The programs pending nowadays such as program by Giorgi Gvakharia dnad Salome Asatiani will be resumed soon. In full  Source: http://www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian CSOs address an open letter to Management of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty. "We, the undersigned CSOs, have been watching closely recent developments around the Georgian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Dismissal of David Kakabadze from the position of the Georgian Service Director has raised questions among Radio Liberty’s devoted audience. Resignation of Marina Vashakmadze, the Head of the local Bureau, has raised further concerns that the conflict between the management and the Georgian Service staff goes beyond trivial internal dispute and may have some deeper roots”, - is mentioned in the letter. In full  Source: www.osgf.ge

Tbilisi. Civil society organizations are demanding a meeting with the Chief Prosecutor regarding the case of Afgan Mukhtarli. This information has been disseminated through a statement signed by 13 organizations. ''We, signatory organizations appeal to the Government of Georgia to publicize details of investigation of alleged kidnapping of Afgan Mukhtarli, an Azerbaijani journalist, on May 29, 2017 in Georgia; While urge the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia to ensure an independent and effective investigation of the Afgan Mukhtarli case'' – is noted in the statement. Read more… Source:emc.org.ge

Tbilisi. The signatory organizations welcome the decision of the President of Georgia to veto the amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which among others foresees the possibility to conduct the public procurement in non-transparent way, increasing the time for placing the commercial advertisements or sponsorship. The presented law significantly increases the risks of non-transparency and the corruption at Georgian Public Service broadcaster. Furthermore, the law will damage the private broadcasters and the Georgian media environment in general. Accordingly, the signatory organizations call on the Parliament not to override the presidential veto and take into account the justified arguments provided by the president, members of the parliamentary committee on Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, the private media and civil society in order to ensure that the amendments to the law will be formulated in way that will not harm the media environment and will be in line with the role and function of the idea of the public service broadcaster. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. As Human Rights House notifies Afgan Makhtarli was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. "The final decision has been made for Afgan Makhtarli's case in the Belakani District Court. According to the above decision, Afgan was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for the following charges: illegal crossing of the border, the smuggling and resisting to the police. Tbilisi Human Rights House believes that this decision of court is unfair and continues to support Afgan and his family”, - mentions Human Rights House. In full  Source: The organization’s page

Tbilisi. The Secretariat of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia considered an application of a group of citizens against the Public Broadcaster acceptable. The disputable material is regarding detention of Zviad Ratiani, a poet. On December 27, the Public Broadcaster transmitted video footages, provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in which Zviad Ratiani was filmed in a non-sober condition. According to the statement, the Broadcaster violated the first (accuracy) and tenth (privacy) principles of the Charter. Read more… Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The ''Media Development Foundation'' has published a study of financial transparency of the media, which contains review of financial environment of the media, including practice of distribution of budgetary means for spreading information and advertising purposes. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a performance appraisal of Adjara Television and Radio of Public Broadcaster. ''Initiation of certain reforms in the broadcaster is associated with the name of Natia Kapanadze, specifically process of employment of the staff has become more transparent, the organization is open to citizens and interested persons, however Adjara Television and Radio is still facing a number of challenges'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition welcomes the decision of the Parliamentary Committee on Sector Economy and Economic Policy, which did not support a bill regarding amendments to the Law on Broadcasting. ''We call on Members of the Parliament to not support an existing edition of legislative amendments...'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Winners of the 2017 competition – "EU prize for journalism” have been revealed. ''''EU prize for journalism'', established in 2012, aims at supporting professional and ethical journalism. Prizes are awarded for print, broadcast, online and photo journalism every year'' – is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics releases a statement regarding coverage of an ongoing special operation at the Monk Gabriel Salosi Street. ''Regardless of actions of law enforcers, the media has an obligation to not cover anti-terrorist or defensive operations in details to avoid possible change of plans of radical groups and failure of an operation'' – is noted in the statement. Read more... Source:The website of the organization

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics responds to the initiative of the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC) regarding legislative amendments. ''It is unacceptable for the Charter of Journalistic Ethics to remove the Article 56 of the Law on Broadcasting from a self-regulation sphere, to allow the National Communications Commission to meddle in a program and thus sanction broadcasters'' – is noted in the statement of the Charter. Read more… Source:qartia.ge