Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia publishes a blog post: ''Public Broadcaster may not pay TNS the fee for exit polls''. ''Exit poll results of Public Broadcaster have significantly missed final results of the elections, published by the Central Election Commission. ... Due to the above difference Public Broadcaster is not intending to pay the fee for performed work to the company that has conducted exit polls'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation (MDF) publishes a blog post: ''Investigation of facts of pressure on journalists is ineffective in Georgia''. The Media Development Foundation has published a monitoring report of the "Action Plan of the Government of Georgia on the Protection of Human Rights” for 2014-2015 years. The document states that ''law enforcement and investigative agencies give irrelevant qualification to and investigate ineffectively those cases, in which signs of a crime, related to obstruction of professional activities of journalists, reveal''. In full… Periodic report... Source:www.media.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian civil society organizations unveiled the results of election media monitoring at a press conference on October 6, 2016. Supported by the European Union and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), media monitoring examines media performance during the 2016 Parliamentary elections in Georgia and covers forty-six national and local media outlets – televisions, radio, print and online media. For the full text.. Source: www.ge.undp.org

Tbilisi. ''Georgian Democracy Initiative'' has held a presentation of a report on ''4 years of freedom'' of the media in Georgia''. The report contains issues related to freedom of the media in 2012-2016 years and reviews all those constrains that were relevant to this case during mentioned period of time. In full... Source:gdi.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International Georgia presents interim monitoring report of Georgian Public Broadcaster, which focuses on the working condition at GPB. ''Regardless persistent challenges GPB journalists enjoy higher degree of editorial independence. Prior 2012 there were cases of outside influence on the reporting of the Broadcaster, which does not happen now. Effective communication between management and staff remains a problem. Staff is not duly informed about ongoing processes including the reorganization'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia releases the blogpost: ''Georgian Media Environment from 2012 Parliamentary Elections till Present''. ''Since 2012, the Georgian media has experienced significant changes to become much more pluralistic, as confirmed by respective international ratings. In summer 2015, Georgia fully switched to digital broadcasting, which definitely should be regarded as a positive development for the Georgian media environment. Over the last four years, position of Georgia in the media independence ratings has significantly improved. For the first time over the recent years, advertising revenues started to experience substantial shrinkage in 2015. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that present advertising market is not as much monopolized as it used to be before 2012. There is no gross interference with the advertising market on the part of the State as well,'' is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On September 9, the presentation of results of a midterm media monitoring of the 2016 parliamentary elections was held. ''According to the report, current situation in terms of media coverage of government branches and political subjects has improved in comparison with previous years'' - is stated on the website of the organization in a social network. In full… Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) plans to conduct exit polls on the election day together with three private TV companies – Imedi, GDS and Maestro. The decision was made by the GPB Board of trustees on September 7. ''We call on the GPB Board of trustees and the management to reconsider their decision and to refrain from implementing projects that cast doubt on the broadcaster’s impartiality. We believe that the GPB Board and management should exercise greater responsibility when making similar decisions. Their claim that only the polling company and not the GPB will be responsible for exit poll results is unacceptable. We believe that individual representatives of GPB Board and management fail to understand the risks associated with conducting exit polls through the proposed plan,'' is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The coalition for ''Media Advocacy'' responds to the decision of the Public Broadcaster in regard to conducting an election exit poll together with private TV Companies. ''The coalition for ''Media Advocacy'' calls on the Public Broadcaster to change the taken decision and direct all resources of the Broadcaster towards unbiased coverage of ongoing processes'' – is noted in the statement of the organization. In full... Source:qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. Non-governmental organizations respond to the series of programs broadcasted by the TV Company GDS. ''We consider that in the pre-elections period, the mentioned television format ignores several principles of the ''Code of Conduct for Broadcasters'' of Georgia, approved by the Georgian National Communications Commission'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. On September 6, CDD organized a seminar ''Georgia and the European Union'' for journalists and producers of the television ''Ertsulovneba'' (''Unanimity''). ''Within the framework of the seminar the following issues were discussed: History of Georgia – the European Union relations, Association Agreement, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade (DCFTA) and etc.'' - is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:The website of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics starts forming a new group of ''libcenter''. ''During six months selected applicants will be attending public lectures on human rights, civil society, liberalism and democracy related issues'' – is stated on the website of the organization. In full... Source:libcenter.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has published a midterm report on monitoring of media coverage of the 2016 parliamentary elections. Mentioned report includes the results of monitoring of main news releases of 11 televisions, the report covers the 20 May - 10 July period. The monitoring has been carried out at the following TV channels: Channel 1 of Public Broadcaster, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Maestro, GDS, Tabula, Kavkasia, TV Pirveli, Obieqtivi, Adjara TV, TV25. In full... Source:qartia.org

Tbilisi. The Media Development Foundation requests to study compliance of the video clip, broadcasted through the TV channels of Rustavi 2, Imedi and Maestro on July 16-17, with the legislation related to elections and broadcasting. ''In the opinion of the Media Development Foundation, the video clip, which regards to the government four-point plan of economic reform directed towards rapid development of the country, contains signs of a political advertisement and carries an indication of the use of administrative resources in favor of the ruling team'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization. In full... Source:mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. Summer seminar about NATO is being held for media representatives on 18-19 July. ''Principles of North- Atlantic Alliance, enlargement policy, NATO - Georgia cooperation, outcomes of NATO Warsaw Summit, perspectives of Georgia's integration process as well as importance of Georgia's participation in international peacekeeping missions are main topics of discussion. Strategic communication issues are also discussed during the seminar'', is noted in the statement. In full… Source: Social page

Tbilisi. Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GARB) publishes a video-review of a media-conference that takes place in Tbilisi under the auspices of the OSCE. The conference has mainly dealt with the following topics: ''what challenges do exist in the media of the South Caucasus countries and what are the trends existing in social networks''. In full… Source:garb.ge

Tbilisi. The first lecture of the ''Summer School of Economics'' has been carried out at the office of ''Society and Banks''. ''... The objective of the project is to acquaint high officials of non-governmental organizations and representatives of the media with an economic situation existing in the country, to let the participants discuss about the expected results and the necessary practical steps'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization in a social network. In full… Source: The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. On July 4, studies begin at the Summer School of Economics. ''Listeners of the School are representatives of non-governmental organizations and the media. The training will be conducted by Giorgi Qadagidze, the former President of the National Bank. Duration of the training course will be 2 weeks'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization in a social network. In full… Source:The web-page of the organization in a social network

Tbilisi. ''We would like to express our concern over the apparent signs of political interest and influence illustrated by the developments on June 22nd, related to the Rustavi 2 TV lawsuit. In particular, we mean the deliberate acceleration of the processes by the Court, which resulted in decreasing of the period of time allocated to the sides to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeals in the Supreme Court of Georgia. It is an unprecedented fact for the Court of Appeals to prepare the argumentations for the decision in such a short period of time and proactively deliver the copies of the decisions to the parties. No such action has been observed towards other cases. Based on this and the background of violations of the Court of the First Instance, suspicions of possible political meddling in the affairs of the court seem to be confirmed. In the period of the pre-electoral campaign, this is an issue of grave concern. Events which may affect the editorial policy of an opposition-leaning TV channel in the run-up to the elections can damage the quality of democracy and pluralistic media environment in the country,'' is noted in the statement. In full… Source: www.transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) begins pre-election monitoring and addresses to representatives of the media and non-governmental organizations. ''To support conducting free and fair elections, the organization performs monitoring of the next parliamentary elections in the current year as well. At this stage GYLA observes a pre-election environment and carrying out of a pre-election campaign throughout the country. Violations, revealed during the monitoring, will be reflected in a joint report, prepared by GYLA'' – is stated on the web-page of the organization in a social network. In full... Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The Joshua Friedman and GIPA Prize for the "Best Journalistic Work" has been awarded to the contest winners at the European Journalism Training Association conference. The jury has selected the best 6 out of more than 40 works. Joshua Friedman Prize for the Best Journalistic Work has been founded in 2012 and the prize fund amounts to 1,500 Euros. In full... Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. On June 14, at the Marriot hotel, three non-governmental organizations, ''Transparency International – Georgia'', the ''Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association'' and the ''Media Development Foundation'' presented studies regarding current situation on an advertising market. Researchers of the organizations talked about international audit standards of television ratings measuring companies and presented data regarding a practice of allocation of budgetary resources to the media for the purpose of advertising and disseminating information. The presentations were followed by a discussion. Source: The web-page of the Transparency in a social network