Tbilisi. Representatives of the civil society have addressed the Parliament concerning the process of staffing the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster. The appeal. Source: web page of the Public Broadcaster's Reforms Support Group in the social network.

Tbilisi. The last lecture of 2013 was delivered by Natia Kapanadze in the School of Liberalism on "Media and Politics". The School offers a recording of the lecture for those who were unable to attend. Source: the School's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. New publication of the Media Development Fund (MDF) "Gender Mediator" has been released. The publication aims to promote professional coverage of gender issues in the media. Inform current and future journalists about norms regulating this area and professional standards based on the local and international experience; facilitate effective introduction of self-regulatory mechanisms, which is a significant precondition of raising media coverage quality on gender issues. Publication (geo) Source: mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. 25 December Georgian Association of Regional Broadcasters (GARB) awarded authors of best journalistic materials aired in TV-journal Mravalkutkhedi (Polygon).  GARB awarded 16 journalists of regional media with diplomas.  Winners also received money prizes and symbolic presents. For the full text Source:media.ge

Adjara. At the initiative of CSO "Changes for Equal Rights”, a meeting was organized on December 24 for media representatives aimed at discussing the terms related to persons with disabilities. The organizers have provided media representatives with correct equivalents of incorrect terms and urged them to use these terms correctly when preparing the stories or articles.

Kakheti. The "UN Model” training was delivered on December 24 in the Telavi Education, Development and Employment Center. Member of the Youth Council, Nana Shildelashvili: "This program in Georgia is implemented by the UN Association. This seminar aimed to prepare the members of the Youth Council for globally recognized and certified game – the UN modeling.”

Tbilisi. Regional Media Advertisement Exhibition 2013 was held 24 December.  At the exhibition media organizations operating in Georgian regions presented to business sector representatives their work and proposed cooperation.  Exhibition was organized by the Caucasus University Media School and Open Society Georgia Foundation.  For the full text  Source:media.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. The Center for Tolerance functioning with the Public Defender has delivered a training in the Bazaleti Hotel for journalists in "Culture of Tolerance and Media". The training was delivered as part of the USAID-funded project of the UN Association "Advancing National Integration in Georgia". Training participants have discussed topics such as the grounds of culture of tolerance, rights of religious and ethnic minorities and media, topic of disabilities and media, gender issues and LGBT topics, media standards and ethics. Source: web page of the Media Development Fund in the social network.

Adjara. The nominee to the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster GenoGeladze has presented his concept of Public Broadcaster to CSO representatives on December 23 in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center.

Tbilisi. Media Development Foundation appeals International Organizations. "We would like to express our concern regarding an incident that took place at the Borispol airport, Kiev on December 20, 2013, when the Ukrainian authorities denied entry to a Georgian journalist. We appeal to international organizations Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RWB)] to defend Georgian journalists and their basic right to report without barriers and borders, thereby enhancing the fundamental pillar of journalism to inform society". For the full text   Source:mdfgeorgia.ge

Tbilisi. Charter of Journalistic Ethics Council has a new chairman. Natia Kuprashvili will head the Charter of Journalistic Ethics during next one year. Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics also has 3 new members. Members of the Council have become Nino Zuriashvili by Tbilisi quota and Nino Narimanishvili and Irina Kurua by regional media quota.  They have been elected for a three-year term.  On December 21, Charter awarded winners of the Charter Prize. For the full text: Natia Kuprashvili becomes Chairman of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics Council For the full text: Council of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics has 3 new members For the full text: Charter Prize winners announced Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund has presented in "Frontline Georgia" the report on "Hate Speech and Discrimination in Georgian Media". The report was drafted as part of the small grants mechanism of the "Advancing National Integration in Georgia" project, implemented by the UN Association of Georgia and the "Open Society Georgia" Foundation with financial support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The report (geo) Source: page of "Frontline Georgia" in the social network.

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers' Association's Media Legal Defense Center conducted a research in Georgia on freedom of expression and analyzed media’s condition in terms of freedom of expression in the period of January 2006 - October 2013. The research aims to reveal legislative and practical gaps in terms of mass media and to encourage freedom of media in the country. In the frames of the research the GMLDC team studied the facts of illegal interference in journalists’ professional activities and decisions taken by the court. Furthermore, the research also analyzed media regulating legislation and provided assessment of media condition in Georgia.    The research also submits the key findings and GYLA’s recommendations on the necessary measures for improvement of freedom of expression of media in Georgia.  Representatives from the ministries, international organizations and media representatives attended the event.   The presentation was held in the framework of the GYLA’s project Georgian Media Reinforces Democracy, Accountability and Public Awareness (IREX -MEDIA). The research (geo) Source:gyla.ge

Mtskheta-Mtianeti. On December 14-15, in Gudauri, UNICEF Georgia organized a meeting with journalists about violence against children. Representatives of UNICEF Georgia presented results of the research ''Violence Against Children in Georgia''. Source:the organization's page in the social network 

Tbilisi. 14 December European Union Office in Georgia and the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) announced winners of the European Union Prize for Journalism 2013. The jury discussed materials published from 1 October 2012 till 30 October 2013. Journalists have been awarded in 4 categories. For the full text Source:media.ge

Imereti. A discussion on the "Media's Role and Freedom in Georgia" was organized for the members of the Kutaisi Youth Center on December 11. Journalist Davit Liklikadze has led the work of the discussion club. Meeting participants have discussed the degree of media freedom in Georgia, the role of mass media outlets in the formation of democratic society and what is a public attitude towards media. Focus was made on social media and its importance. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. CSO "Junior Achievement Georgia" has conducted a training program for the current and beginner journalists and bloggers with funding from the international association Civitas Georgica. The training - "Economy and Business for Journalists" - aimed at informing the journalists and bloggers in economic and legal terms, as well as business activities, and increasing their competence in the process of coverage of economy and business issues. At the end of the training the participants were awarded with certificates and they will draft an article on business issues. Source: civitas.ge

Kakheti. 2-day training was delivered for journalists operating in the Kakheti Region in Kachreti, the "Ambassador" Hotel. The training, organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, aimed at informing media representatives about the Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention foreseeing measures for protection of the ozone layer as well as stage-by-stage removal from use of the ozone-depleting substances.

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics will be also discussing ethical violations by non-member journalists. To reach the decision the Charter held online voting, the results were publicized on December 3.197 members voted for the expansion of the Charter’s mandate, v. 21 journalists. Changes will come into effect following Charter’s general sitting and re-election of the Board (December 21). The Board of the Charter will be examining the applications against non-member journalists in line with the rules applied. The only change will be provided for in the course of proceedings – applications against non-member journalists will be accepted within one month, in regard to the members though the three months term remains unchanged. Submissions after the deadline won’t be accepted by the Charter. Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. On November 29 will be held Tbilisi Media-Conference 2013.  The Conference is organized by the Media Advocacy Coalition and Open Society Georgian Foundation. Conference will be attended by Georgian and foreign journalists and will assess situation in Georgian media and discuss perspectives of its development. Following topics are to be discussed at the Conference:  influence of new political realities on media; editorial independence; journalistic standard; diversity of topics; broadcaster regulation; self-regulation; challenges of digital broadcasting; Georgian Public Broadcaster issue; financial transparency of media and advertisement market.  Conference agenda Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. 26 November Open Society Georgia Foundation identified journalists, winners of the Human Rights and Healthcare media-competition. Goal of the competition was to attract the attention of the society and media to such topics as legal position of persons under palliative care, disabled people, HIV-infected persons and people with AIDS.  Also making emphasis on what is the availability of healthcare and services for them. Media-competition was announced in July 2013 and 15 TV, printed and online media journalists participated in it. Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information published a study - "Digital Broadcasting Switchover - Challenges and Problems in Georgia". Study  Source:idfi.ge