Tbilisi. On May 21, the Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released the results of May 17 news monitoring. The Charter has observed the following TV companies: – Public Broadcaster, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Maestro, 9th Channel, Kavkasia and Adjara. For the full text.(geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. On May 21, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has presented the strategy on transition to digital broadcasting. Presented strategy includes all key issues that are necessary for successfully implementing the process of transition to digital broadcasting: technical parameters, broadcasting licensing, state subsidizing policy, competition regulation policy, business model, information campaign, etc. The "Draft strategy on transition to the digital broadcasting of Georgia" was developed with the financial support of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. The strategy on transition to digital broadcasting.(geo) Source: media.geSector – media.

Tbilisi. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has met with the journalists of information service of TV Company "Imedi". Representatives of the Charter have briefed the journalists about the principles of the Charter's work. TV Company "Imedi" is the third consecutive television within the framework of information campaign that the Charter of Ethics implements. The campaign aims at actively involving the journalists in the Charter's activities. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. On May 8 the EU Ambassador to Georgia Philip Dimitrov has officially opened the contest "EU Prize in Journalism 2013”. "With this Prize we support the freedom of speech in the Georgian journalism and the development of professional standards in line with the EU values,” – Dimitrov has said. Detailed information on the contest is available on the web page euprizejournalism.ge Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has released a letter in connection with the World Press Freedom Day. For the 20th time, the world celebrates the Press Freedom Day – May 3 and the Charter of Ethics congratulates all journalists with the professional celebration. "From the day of restoration of the country’s independence, Georgian media always faced challenges, and in this respect 2012 was not different either – the pre-election period if you like, when the persecution of journalists was a usual event. The incident that took place on May 1 this year is alarming as well, when the law-enforcers have arrested two journalists during the coverage of manifestation,” – says the statement. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics expresses hope "that the country’s current authorities will finally apprehend the need for the free media; apprehend that the independence and strength of media is a safeguard of democratic development of all three branches of power and the state as a whole.” For the full text (geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. To celebrate the World Liberty Day, the EC Delegation to Georgia announced the second round of the contest "EU Prize in Journalism”. The EU Ambassador to Georgia Philip Dimitrov will officially present the EU prize. Journalists and attending audience will have an opportunity to discuss in detail the terms and prize categories of the contest together with the EU representatives. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Another media monitoring project was presented on April 30. From May 2013, four NGOs will observe the work of up to 40 media outlets during the pre-election period of the presidential elections. The media monitoring project is funded by the EU and the UN Development Program and is implemented by the following NGOs – International Society for the Fair and Elections and Democracy, the Caucasus Research Resources Center, Internews and the Civil Development Institute. The EU Ambassador to Georgia Mr. Philip Dimitrov has attended the meeting. He has emphasized the importance of media monitoring. Interested persons will be able to view the monitoring results at the following web pages: www.mediamonitor.ge and www.facebook.com/mediamonitor. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Eurasia Partnership Foundation has echoed the information disseminated by certain media outlets, explaining that the "TV Company 9th Channel has not received grant funding from the Foundation. TV Company 9th Channel has participated in the tender organized by the Foundation in March 2013 (tender amount 17,000 GEL), which aimed at covering Euro-integration issued by the televisions through talk-shows. The following media outlets were invited to participate in the tender: the Public Broadcaster of Georgia, TV Imedi, broadcasting company Rustavi 2, Studio Maestro and TV 9th Channel. These companies were selected based on the interviews conducted by the Caucasus Research Resources Center, according to which the majority of the Georgian population receives the news through these very televisions. As a result of the tender, the Eurasia Partnership Foundation has executed with TV 9th Channel the service contract, under which 10 television programs must be produced as part of the talk-shows "Major Question" and "Big Time", - says the Foundation's statement. For the full text. Source: epfound.ge

Imereti. The project of NGO "Media Portal" was presented in the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center on April 25. The contest will be held as part of this project aimed at enhancing the institute of citizen journalists. Those wishing to participate in the contest must prepare photo or video stories on the developments of concern in the city.The project is being implemented with the support of the Eurasia Partnership Foundation and funding from the Swedish Agency for International Cooperation.

Tbilisi. The new Executive Director was elected on April 16 at the session of the Charter of Journalistic Ethics. Journalist Tamar Rukhadze was supported by five members of the Board. Position of the Executive Director became vacant after Tamar Kordzaia decided to join politics and leave the Charter. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information has filed an administrative complaint with the Public Broadcaster due to a refusal to issue public information. "Requested information contains neither the state, professional nor commercial secret. LEPL Public Broadcaster has refused the Institute without any grounds. We hope that LEPL Public Broadcaster will react adequately to the complaint of the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information," says the organization's web page. Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund (MDF) and the ALPE Foundation share the position of "Transparency International – Georgia” and the "International Society for Free Elections and Democracy” (ISFED), according to which members of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster should be replaced gradually as prescribed by law, and the powers of the Board should not be terminated artificially."We believe that the early termination of powers of the Board of Trustees will create a dangerous precedent and have an adverse effect on the Public Broadcaster’s activities in the future,” says the statement released by the organizations. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Parliament should not allow the precedent of dissolving the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster – was the message of representatives of organizations "Transparency International – Georgia” and the "International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” at the press-conference held on April 3. In their opinion, the Broadcaster has never been at its best, caused by ineffective governance by the management and constant political pressure. The organizations believe that full dissolution of the Board of Trustees will create a dangerous precedent, providing the parliamentary majorities in the future a possibility to change the Broadcaster’s Board of Trustees according to their preferences. "Such precedent increases the risk of political interference not only in the activities of the Public Broadcaster but all state structures that must hold on to the political neutrality.” Source: media.ge

Tbilisi.Transparency International – Georgia puts forth the initiative about stage-by-stage transformation of the Board of Trustees of the Public Broadcaster. "The desire to dissolve the current Board is fully understandable. Yet, we believe this will create a very dangerous precedent that will enable the parliamentary majorities in the future to change the Board of Trustees according to their preferences. What will prevent the future government from doing the same and appointing more loyal persons to the authorities as managers of the Public Broadcaster?", says the statement posted on the organization's web page. Transparency International – Georgia believes that it is better if the Board members are gradually replaced rather than the entire Board is changed momentarily. For the full text. Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi. What is insolence? How should a journalist behave when a respondent uses bad language? And what is the real situation in this respect in the Georgian media? These topics were discussed in the "Charter of Journalistic Ethics". All such cases were examined throughout the discussion, and the participants have judged the extent to which bad statements are considered as insolence.Source: the organization's page in the social network.

Tbilisi. The Media Development Fund (MDF) and the ALPE Foundation call on the TV-company "Rustavi 2" to observe professional standards. The organizations have released a statement on this subject on March 27. The statement says that "Rustavi 2" has violated the standards of journalistic ethics and behavior, as well as the Broadcaster's Code of Behavior. The organizations became concerned about the story aired in the 3pm, 6pm and 9pm news programs of "Currier" on March 26, concerning the lady killed because of jealousy by her spouse on March 20. The Media Development Fund and ALPE Foundation call on the TV-company to respect a person's reputation, refrain from making assessments based on rumors and emotional background, and to observe the Broadcaster's Code of Behavior and professional standards. Source: media.ge

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media DunjaMijatovic has positively evaluated hte amendments to the Law on Broadcasting. Yet, she offers certain recommendations to the Georgian side and refers to vague provisions as well.DunjaMijatovic has submitted the OSCE analysis to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia on March 25. The document provides legal analysis and focuses on the necessity of securing proper work of the Public Broadcaster during the transition period. For the full text. Source: media.ge

Samegrelo. A media school will open up as a result of partnership between the Georgian NGO "Media and Society” and the Czech organization "Independent Trainers’ Association of Prague”. The school will aim at improving the media environment and the journalists’ skills. Media school will open up in August, with participation of editors from the three Caucasian states – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The training will last for 10 days. The experienced journalists of BBC and the foreign offices of Radio Liberty will teach video-reporting to the participants. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Go Group has started working on a new film depicting the life of Dukhobors residing in Georgia. The major project of the Go Group, "Studio Eye-Witness” unites the professional and citizen journalists and produces the documentaries.Source: the organization’s page in the social network.

Tbilisi. IREX G-MEDIA has released the March 15 data of the continuous radio audience research. In addition to Tbilisi, the research has covered 11 large and middle size cities. The continuous radio audience research is conducted by the holder of TNS license, Market Intelligence Caucasus, as part of the sub-grant received from the IREX G-MEDIA Program funded by USAID. The research. Source: irexgmedia.files.wordpress.com

Tbilisi.The Charter of Journalistic Ethics has organized the discussion on "Coverage of violence in the Georgian media". The participants have discussed the mistakes made by the Georgian media when covering violence and how the journalists should behave when working on such topics. The examples of wrong reporting and covering of the shots demonstrating violence were examined. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Coalition "For Media Advocacy" has released a statement concerning the developments in the Public Broadcaster. The Coalition believes that bringing in order the situation in the Public Broadcaster and creating a normal work regime is possible only through structural reorganization, which in the first place implies the formation of a new Board of Trustees, as well as clear delimitation of powers between the Board of Trustees and the television's executive management.The Coalition urges the Parliament of Georgia to expedite the examination of amendments and supplements to the Law on Broadcasting. Source: media.ge