Tbilisi. The Coalition "For Media Advocacy" has released a statement, expressing concerns over failed negotiations between Magticom and Palitra TV lasting several months. The Coalition expresses readiness to be actively involved in negotiations between Magticom and Palitra TV and act as a mediator. For the full text... Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. With support from the UN Children's Fund, the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics is launching a new project to promote ethical coverage of children's issues by the Georgian media. The project includes several areas: media monitoring, seminars for journalists in the Georgian regions (Batumi, Gori, Telavi), identification of in-depth works on children's issues, and advocacy aimed at activating the consideration of applications on children's issues submitted with the self-regulatory bodies of broadcasters. For the full text (geo)... Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics has reacted to incident on the Roses Square, when at the protest rally photo reporter of "Interpressnews", Irakli Gedenidze was physically assaulted. "The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics appeals to law-enforcement agencies to investigate the assault on Irakli Gedenidze in a speedy manner, act within the scope of law and react adequately. In addition, the Council appeals to law-enforcers and organizers of demonstrations to protect and ensure as much as possible a free movement and work of media representatives at similar protest rallies", the statement says. For the full text (geo)... Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund condemns physical assault exercised against photo reporter of "Interpressnews", Irakli Gedenidze. The institute urges law-enforcement agencies to react adequately to this fact. In addition, it calls on the organizers of "Slap in the Face" rally to isolate themselves from this fact and condemn violence. For the full text (geo)... Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has released a statement, in which it "condemns beating of press photographer Irakli Gedenidze at the rally called "Slap in the Face" held on the Square of Roses in Tbilisi on 4 March 2015, crushing his photo camera, and obstructing journalist's professional activities". GYLA states that the state is obligated to secure the safety of journalists, and to effectively investigate offences committed against journalists. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia has released a blog "Must Carry objectives should not be ignored in the dispute between Palitra TV and Magticom". According to the organization, for over a year "Magticom" refuses to include "Palitra TV" in the consumer package of Magtisat's broadcasting channel. Numerous negotiations between the parties have failed. Dispute between the companies was heard by the National Communications Commission as well as by the Tbilisi City Court. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Kakheti. At the initiative of the Civic Engagement Center, a public discussion was organized in Telavi on March 2 on the "Social media and local leaders". The meeting aimed to rethink the importance of social media among public in identifying local leaders and achieving their success. At the meeting young bloggers have shared their experience with the audience and discussed the role of social media in the society: "At the meeting we have discussed the importance of social media, what is a blog, how should it be created and managed. Further, we have discussed various social networks and bloggers. We have informed the audience about ways of becoming successful leaders by blogging", blogger RatiTegerashvili has stated. The coordination team of the Civic Engagement Center has informed the meeting participants and the audience about the bloggers' contest announced by the "Media Development Fund", titled "Women for Changes".

Tbilisi. As part of the project "Informed Voter", Internews Georgia has produced a documentary describing the role of media in the elections period and its impact on the formation of a public opinion – how impartial and balanced is the information provided by media outlets to voters when covering the pre-election campaign, and how impartial is media in general. The project "Informed Voter" aims to raise civil awareness and inform voters of different ages about electoral rights and duties, which by itself provides for increased citizen participation in elections. For the full text. Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released a monitoring report of the Georgian Public Broadcaster. The Charter was monitoring three public broadcasters (Georgian Public Broadcaster - 1st Channel, Georgian Public Broadcaster - 2nd Channel, and the Adjara TV) from 15 October to 15 December 2014. Monitoring aimed to identify the extent of complying with statutory obligations and broadcasting priorities by the broadcasters. For the full text. Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. Transparency International – Georgia released a new blog concerning the candidates submitted to the National Communications Commission. The powers of three Commission members expire on March 12, and the Parliament must elect three new members from nine candidates submitted by the President. For the full text (geo)... Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. "Internews-Georgia" has launched a cycle of regional talk-shows "Informed Voter", which aims to inform voters of different ages about their electoral rights and duties, which by itself facilitates increased citizen participation in elections. The project of "Internews-Georgia" provides for the production of television and educational talk-shows in other 7 regional broadcasters. The project "Media and Informed Voter" is funded by the Center of Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training. For the full text (geo) Source: media.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The Akhaltsikhe Media Center has hosted a meeting on February 9, at which the journalists of local media outlets have planned joint activities for covering gender related issues.What is gender, what issues is the audience interested in the gender sphere, what do political parties offer to women voters, how are women represented in the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Administration and local administrations of the Municipality – these were the issues discussed by representatives of media organizations.Gender Media Center is functioning in the office of newspaper "Southern Gate" for several months. There is a hotline - 557 000 934, which any citizen can call.Gender Media Center is opened as part of the project "Journalists for Gender Equality", implemented by the "Journalist Network for Gender Equality" with support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Similar centers function in 8 cities of Georgia, in the offices of media organizations.

Tbilisi. "Transparency International - Georgia" has released a blog post - "Legislative amendments on advertising should be enforced gradually". "At the end of 2014, the Georgian National Communications Commission has approached the Parliament with legislative proposal aimed at regulating the advertising. ... On February 5 the Parliament has adopted the law at the second hearing. ... We believe it will be expedient to enforce the process within reasonable timeframes. It is necessary to give business a proportional period for getting familiar with these regulations and tailoring them to their own business processes. In this respect, we find it is unacceptable to enact these regulations at the time when broadcasting companies have already signed annual contracts on provision of advertising services", the blog post says. For the full text. Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The "Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information" has discussed urgent issues of digital broadcasting switchover at a roundtable on February 5. The event was attended by representatives of CSOs, the National Communications Commission, Digital Broadcasting Agency, media and companies, which must build a network for switching to digital broadcasting. For the full text. Source: idfi.ge  

Tbilisi. Frontline Georgia has hosted on January 28 the screening of Toma Chagelishvili's short films, dedicated to observance of ethical norms and standards in the journalistic practices. It is a joint project of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation and Toma Chagelishvili. 12-minute films depict extreme decision-making in the editorial office. Source: the Foundation's web page in the social network.

Tbilisi. Another meeting of the project "Reflections" was held on January 22 in Frontline Georgia, dedicated to coverage of the crises – "Media no longer able to cope with covering crises". The Club hosted BBC correspondent Natalia Antelava, who has discussed coverage of the crises. Frontline Georgia has posted a video recording in the social network. Discussions are organized as part of the joint project of Frontline Georgia and the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs, "Open Platform". "Reflections" – Media no longer able to cover crises.     Source: web page of Frontline Georgia in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSOs have addressed self-regulatory body of TV company "Kavkasia". "Four CSOs have addressed self-regulatory body of TV company "Kavkasia" with a complaint. The complaint of the Civil Integration Fund, Media Development Fund, Tolerance and Diversity Institute and the Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center was "triggered by the statements of the host of talk show "Spectrum", Davit Akubardia, made on December 26, which, in the organizations' opinion, are discriminatory and incite hostility towards the Muslim Georgian citizens", says the web site of the Tolerance and Diversity Institute. For the full text Source: tdigeorgia.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. CSOs have released a joint statement, reacting to recent developments in the TV company "Maestro”. For the full text. Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. Public Defender released a Statement on depiction of issues of violence against women in negative context in the media. "The media occupies the most important place in the process of elimination of gender inequality and discrimination. In recent period, alarming facts of violence against women has been taken place. I would like to once again reaffirm the need for careful reporting on these issues. Incorrectly presented information can lead to negative consequences". For the full text Source: ombudsman.ge  

Tbilisi. The Independent Association of Georgian Journalists has commented on recent dismissals of staff from the Georgian TV companies "Maestro" and "TV3". The organization expresses readiness to "render legal assistance to colleagues and if needed, to play a mediator's role between the employers and employees". For the full text. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. A general assembly of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics was held on December 21. At the general assembly three new members of the Ethics Council were elected: Tazo Kupreishvili (TV company "Rustavi 2"). Maia Metskhvarishvili ("Netgazeti") and Jaba Ananidze ("TV channel 25"). Pursuant to the Charter of the Charter's Council, the following members have left the Charter Council: Natia Kuprashvili, former Chair of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics and two members of the Charter Council – Natia Rokva and Davit Mchedlidze, due to expiration of their three-year membership to the Council. The Council member Nino Zuriashvili was elected as the Chair of the Charter's Council. For the full text Source: 17maisi.org

Tbilisi. The EU Delegation to Georgia and the EU Observer Mission have announced on December 19 the winners of the "EU Prize in Journalism 2014". The EU Prize in Journalism – is the initiative of the EU Delegation to Georgia and aims to identify and acknowledge works of Georgian media that share and foster professional journalistic ethics and principles. Full info on the winners Source: netgazeti.ge