Adjara. On March 9 a media-tour was organized by CENN and the organization "Borjghalo” in the mountainous regions of Adjara. The participants were the members of all the media-bodies in Adjara.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association has set up a group in the social network titled "Media and 2014 Elections". The group aims to set up an online platform for journalists and media outlets where they can raise issues of importance to them related to the pre-election process. The group is open for any journalist or media organization interested in covering the local self-government election process. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released a statement on developments in Ukraine. "We would like to express our sorrow that extreme tensions in Kyiv have resulted in casualties - there are dead and wounded, including the citizens of Georgia, media representatives - journalist ViacheslavVerem. We extend our condolences to the families of victims, colleagues," says the statement. The organization appeals to the Foreign Ministry and the Georgian diplomatic mission in Ukraine to assist and support the work of Georgian journalists as much as possible, and most importantly, to take maximum care of their safety. Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition for "Media Advocacy" echoes the draft legislative amendments on switchover to digital broadcasting adopted by the Parliament of Georgia through expedited procedures. Amendments are made to the Laws on the "Electronic Communications" and "Licenses and Permits". For the full text (geo) Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics released an appeal, in which the organization expresses concern over verbal insult of the journalist of newspaper "Guria News" by the Ozurgeti Municipality Gamgebeli. For the full text (geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

Shida Kartli. On February 15 a media school was opened in "Biliki”. The aim of the school is to raise schoolchildren’s level of conscience, level of social activity, to develop social initiatives with the help of learning media and other communication means. There were organized three major groups – radio journalism, TV journalism, and newspaper journalism. Source: Web-page of the organization in social network.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released a statement on the talk-show "Reaction". "The Charter echoes one of the episodes aired during the talk-show "Reaction" of the Imedi TV, in which an adolescent with leukemia has participated. The Charter's Council believes that an adolescent and his grave health state were abused for the sake of the program," says the statement. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics appeals to all media outlets to treat the interests of children and topics associated with them with particular caution. For the full text (geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

The 2014 World Press Freedom Index recently published by the "Reporters without Boarders” shows a significant improvement in Georgia’s ranking. The country has moved from 100th to 84th place. According the report improvement in Georgian media environment was mainly caused by the fact that 2013 presidential election was less tense than the previous year’s parliamentary election. Media polarization will nonetheless continue to be a challenge in the coming years. World Press Freedom Index source: Mediamonitor.ge

Kakheti. The Independent Journalists' Association of Georgia has organized an introductory meeting in the Telavi Media Cafe with journalists working in the Kakheti Region. Organizers have presented at the meeting the journalists' safety manual "Under Risk", published with financial support of the International Federation of Journalists and the EU. The manual analyzes the events of 2008-2012, including the facts of attacks, threats and pressure against journalists.

Tbilisi. Number of radio-audience in Georgia has increased compared to January 2013 by the end of the ear in December by 8% and totaled 52%.  The given conclusion has been publicized by Market Intelligence Caucasus (TNS) as result of research conducting during one year. The research has been conducted by USAID funding within the framework of IREX G-MEDIA program.  During the research TNS interviewed over 13 thousand individuals by telephone and direct meeting principle – question was which radio they listened to previous day, where and for how long. For the full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. The Council of Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics calls on media organizations to refrain from identifying suspects by ethnic features.The Council urges media organizations to show "more professionalism and caution ... during the coverage and not to allow the identification of suspects by ethnic grounds, especially when the ethnicity has nothing to do with the committed offence,” says the statement. Source: qartia.org.ge

Adjara. The Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation was executed on February4 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center between CSO "For the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” and the Batumi Auto-Transport. The Memorandum aims to create jobs for persons with disabilities in the Batumi Auto-Transport and promote the processes of their integration into the society.A study will be carried out as part of the Memorandum to find out if persons with special needs use municipal transport.

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute has awarded on February 5 the winner journalists of competition. It is the eighth consecutive year that CSI organizes a contest for journalists working on public problems. The contest aims to promote a broader and deeper coverage of public issues, CSO activities and civil activities.The contest was carried out in the following nominations: Best article; Best TV story; Best radio story; Best photograph. Winner journalists were named by the jury consisting of Zviad Koridze, Davit Paichadze, Soso Simonishvili, Nana Sajaia and Guram Tsibakhashvili. By the jury’s decision, prizes under the best article nomination were awarded as follows: Irma Kakhurashvili (article: "Slow-Motion Mine Stopwatch Is On”, newspaper "Georgia Today” – first prize, 1000 GEL); Tatia Khaliani (article: "Mothers That Nobody Cares For”, "Liberal” Magazine – second prize, 500 GEL); Eka Maghaldadze (article: "Khudonhesi – 35-Year Dilemma”, "Liberal” Magazine – bonus prize, 250 GEL). Winner under the radio story nomination was not revealed and only the second prize was awarded: Goga Aptsiauri (story: Georgian-Ossetian Peace Projects, Radio "Liberty”, 500 GEL). Winners of the best TV story nomination are: Nana Naskidashvili (story: Tabatskuri Lake and the Trouble of Fishermen, studio "Monitor” – first prize, 1000 GEL); Giorgi Gvishiani (story: Human Grief, TV Company "Rustavi 2” – second prize, 500 GEL); Dato Abramishvili (story: Restoration of Samtavisi, TV Company "Rustavi 2” – bonus prize, 250 GEL). Prizes for the best photo nomination were awarded to: Gia Gogatishvili (photo-series: May 17 – first prize, 1000 GEL); Oliko Tsiskarishvili (photo-series: Dream Town – second prize, 500 GEL).

Tbilisi. A safety handbook for journalists - "Under Risk" - was presented on January 30. The book is a practical manual for practicing journalists and based on concrete facts it describes and analyzes problems that a journalist may face in the extreme conditions. The manual was published by the "Independent Association of Georgian Journalists" at the commission of partner organization "International Federation of Journalists" (IFJ), with funding from the European Commission. For the full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. The Civil Society Institute will award the winners of the journalist contest on February 5. It is the eighth consecutive year that CSI organizes a contest for journalists working on public problems. The contest aims to promote a broader and deeper coverage of public issues, CSO activities and civil activities. The contest was carried out in the following nominations:  Best article;  Best TV story;  Best radio story;  Best photograph. Winner journalists were named by the jury consisting of Zviad Koridze, Davit Paichadze, Soso Simonishvili, Nana Sajaia and Guram Tsibakhashvili. The award ceremony will be held on February 5 at 13:00, in the "Tbilisi Marriott" Hotel.

Tbilisi. The "Charter of Journalistic Ethics" and UNICEF have presented a new project to journalists on January 28. The project that will run for 5 months from January 15 to June 1 aims to support ethical coverage of children's issues in the Georgian media. Monitoring is aimed at determining the extent of observation of international or domestic standards and ethical norms by media when covering the children's issues. For the full text Source: www.media.ge

Tbilisi. The "School of Liberalism" has hosted on January 27 the lecture of MP Tamar Kordzaia on "Can the Public Broadcaster Serve the Authorities". The School offers a video recording of the lecture for those who were unable to attend. Source: the School's web page in the social network.  

Tbilisi. Non-Governmental organizations released a statement on the Process of Selecting Candidates for the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster of Georgia. "We urge the Parliament to ensure conduct of the new competition, if any; with the composition of the old commission with a view to reflect already gained public trust in the final version of the Board. Furthermore, we call on the Parliament to make the timely and effective decision in a manner that the new Board was able to ensure smooth functioning of the public broadcaster with a view to provide information to public on states political development and public process, including the upcoming local self-government elections, without restriction", says the statement. For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Reporters Without Borders organization calls upon the government of Ukraine to respect the media staff and ensure the safety of their working environment. According to the letter published by the organization, at least 37 representatives of the media are reported injured by plastic bullets, firecrackers and other non-lethal weapons.  The statement of the organization reads that the Ukrainian government must ensure safe environment for journalists and not escalate confrontation with the rally participants, in an effort to protect democratic principles. For the full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association and the Broadcasting Company "Hereti” released a statement about the broadcasting license of Energy Group LLC and TV3. For the full text Source:gyla.ge

Tbilisi. "IREX G-MEDIA" has released a story - "Batumelebi from the New Perspective". The story tells how the studio was developed, how the new programs are prepared in the newspaper "Batumelebi", and what do they learn in the IREX's new media manager trainings. The story was developed by the G-MEDIA Communications Officer Anita Tvauri. The story. Source: irexgmediageo.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Media Advocacy Coalition released a statement about the reforms in the Public Broadcaster Adjara TV and Radio. Coalition calls on Adjara Television and Radio Director to transparently and fairly conduct the competition for managing positions in the broadcaster. For the full text (geo) Source:qartia.org.ge