Tbilisi.A seminar for journalists on violence against children will be held on November 19 in the office of the "Open Society – Georgia" Foundation, as part of the program "East-East without Borders". Psychologist KetevanTavartkiladze from the Georgian Foundation for Public Health and Development of Medicine will lead the seminar. The seminar will focus on the following issues: violence in the eyes of a child - what do children say, think and feel about themselves, adults and life; impact of violence on a child's development and well-being; the society's role in protecting the children from violence; media and children: how should the child violence issues be covered without damaging the children themselves. For full text. Source:osgf.ge

Adjara. On November 6, the Batumi Civic Engagement Center has organized a public meeting/discussion on the "determination of the status of the Adjara television and radio". As the meeting organizers have noted, by the end of the year the Law on Broadcasting must be amended and the status of the television must be finally determined, otherwise the functioning of the regional channel will be put to question. NGO sector, lawyers, journalists and legislators have discussed several versions of the television's status. According to the survey conducted by the "Democracy Institute", 76% of the respondents have supported the establishment of the television as the regional public broadcaster. According to one of the versions, it must be sold, transformed into a limited liability company or closed, as the Adjara budget bears rather huge expenses for running it.Deputy Head of the Adjara Supreme Council Davit Batsikadze, Chair of the NGO "Democracy Institute" GenoGeladze, Head of the "Independent Journalists' House" AslanChanidze, media expert AmiranKighuradze, as well as the representatives of various political parties, CSOs, students and media have participated in the discussion.

Imereti. As part of the Civic Education and Teacher Training Program, a social media training was delivered for the schoolchildren of the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades on November 5 in the public school of village Kvedagora of the Vani Municipality. The training aimed at disseminating information on the social media among the schoolchildren and developing the skills for its application among the project target groups, which in the future will assist the youngsters in acknowledging the role of the social media in the public mobilization. Total of 26 pupils have attended the training. The Civic Education and Teacher Training Program is implemented by PH-International, with the financial support of USAID. For full text. Source:kedec.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. The training in the social media issues was delivered on November 3 and 4 in the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center, as part of the Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program. The training was led by the graduates of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) Keti Gigashvili and Tea Gamezardashvili, while among the participants were ten schoolchildren from the Akhaltsikhe-based public schools and two pupils from the public school of village Atskuri, who have assisted the trainers. The first day was dedicated to theoretic issues: what is social media, mass media, a blog, how can one upload information on a blog, and how to use the social media outlets. The second day has continued with practical exercises. The students have created blogs, learned how to post information on blogs and how to use the blogs correctly. On the second day of the training the schoolchildren have evaluated the ideas of each other – what kind of information they intended to post on the blogs and commented on these ideas in the evaluation sheets. Finally they have filled in the training evaluation online applications. The development of knowledge and skills of social media among the pupils, teachers and other interested target groups is one of the central components of the program – "Development of Social Media at the Regional Level".

Tbilisi. The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association released the statement, according to which the Adjara Television must be granted the status of a public broadcaster. "Currently the sub-agency institution of the Adjara Autonomous Republic carries out the broadcasting functions, whereas the analysis of legislative acts demonstrates that it is prohibited to grant such functions to an administrative agency. This status of the Adjara Television contradicts with the text of Article 37.2 of the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, pursuant to which a license-holder/authorized person in the broadcasting field cannot be an administrative agency", – says the statement. GYLA expresses readiness to participate in the process of reforming the legislation of Georgia in the broadcasting field. The Statement. The status and legal state of the State Television of the Adjara Autonomous Republic (brief analysis). Source: gyla.ge

Kakheti. On October24-27, at its own initiative, the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation has organized a training for journalists in human rights and healthcare issues. Up to 20 journalists from various media outlets have participated in the training. For full text. Source: Page of "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation in the social network.

Imereti. The Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has delivered a seminar on October 26 in Kutaisi for the regional media representatives on the issues related to access to information. Representatives of print and television media from Kutaisi, Zestaponi, Batumi and Ozurgeti have participated in the seminar. At the meeting the journalists were briefed about the history of freedom of information, Georgian and international legislation on the access to information and modern trends, as well as the issues of access of public information in the administrative bodies, etc. Alexander Kashumov, expert invited to the seminar has shared his experience with the Georgian journalists. The documentary was also shown at the meeting, which relates about 5 stories about successful journalist investigations by the Bulgarian journalists. The discussion was held at the end of the seminar. One-day seminar was organized as part of the joint program of the European Council and EU - "Supporting the Freedom, Professionalism and Pluralism of Mass Information Means in the South Caucasus and Moldova". For full text. Source:idfi.ge

Tbilisi. "Internews - Georgia" presented the summary results of pre-election media monitoring on October 26. "Language of Hatred in Pre-Election Period" – was the title of monitoring, which aimed at disclosing the language of hatred in the Georgian media during the pre-election period. Within the project framework, the following media outlets were monitored - television companies: Public Broadcaster, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Maestro, 9th Channel, Kavkasia, Real TV; radios: Radio 1, Imedi, Green Wave, Fortuna, Voice of Abkhazia, Palitra, Utsnobi; (prime-time news editions and talk-shows were monitored); print editions: Alia, KvirisKronika, Asaval-Dasavali, KvirisPalitra, 24 Hours, Rezonansi, AkhaliTaoba, Prime Time, Gza, Tbiliselibi, Reitingi, Sarke, Tabula; online editions: www.netgazeti.ge, www.liberali.ge, www.tribuna.ge, www.droni.ge, www. presa.ge, www. news.ge, www.for.ge, www.ambebi.ge. The report. Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. At the initiative of the Women's Information Center, the first program "A Woman and Politics" was aired live on October 24 on radio "Green Wave". The program examined issues such as the low political participation of women in Georgia, the urgency of introducing the quotes and the future priorities and plans of the gender council's activities.The program "A Woman and Politics" is a part of the cycle of programs "Gender and Society", which is implemented as part of the project "Empowered Women for Public Life", funded within the framework of the US Embassy Democracy Development small grants program. The programs are broadcast on radio "Green Wave" every other Wednesday at 19:00. For full text. Source: ginsc.net

Tbilisi. The Media Legal Protection Center of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association echoes the developments around the television company "Pik” (peak). The activities of TV Company "Pik” were undermined since October 12, and today the journalists of television company are unable to carry out professional activities. According to the Media Legal Center, the documents released around this issue raise too many questions as towards the Public Broadcaster, as well as towards the management of television company "Pik”. For full text. Source: gyla.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti. As part of the small grants program, the internal school radio was activated on October 24 in the Public School #2 of the borough Vale. Through the radio network the members of civic clubs and the school’s self-government will disseminate information on the club work.The school administration as well as the teachers and students believe that the radio will promote active participation of schoolchildren in the club and school life.The small grants program in Samtskhe-Javakheti is implemented by the Akhaltsikhe Youth Center.

Tbilisi. CSO "Internews Georgia" has monitored the evening news of 12 radio stations for the period of 18 September - 15 October 2012. These radios are: Radio Fortuna, Radio Hot Chocolate, Radio Liberty, Radio Imedi, Radio Utsnobi, Radio Hereti, Radio Palitra, Radio Green Wave, Radio Atinati, Radio 1, Radio Old City, Radio Voice of Abkhazeti. Media monitoring was carried out as part of the EU and UNDP funded project "Professional Media for Elections". Main objective of the program is to promote the professioinal, impartial and balanced media coverage during the parliamentary and presidential elections through the monitoring tool. The quantitative and qualitative pre-election monitoring of the Georgian television, radio, print and online media is being carried out by the Georgian CSOs trained by the Slovakian company "Memo 98". The monitoring results are discussed with the invited media experts in the weekly program - "Media Monitor" - aired by the Public Broadcaster. Results of media monitoring of radios – the file. Source:mediamonitor.ge

Tbilisi. The event hall of the Tbilisi Public School #77 hosted the presentation of the "Dream" magazine printed at the initiative of members of the civic club "Dream Club”. The magazine aims to popularize civic education and the Club's activities. At the meeting the Club leaders have informed the invited guests about the civic activities and initiatives of the Club, such as the "Safe street" and "No to vandalism". The Club has also presented the blog and Facebook pages created within the program framework. The meeting was attended by the Director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Innovation Programs under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, representative of the foundation Tbilisi Youth House, administration of the School #77, teachers, pupils and the civic club members from various schools. Online version of the magazine will be published on a monthly basis and it will cover the Club’s activities, achievements and various interesting issues. For full text. Source:civics.ge 

Tbilisi. On October 19 the Coalition "For Media Advocacy” has addressed the future Parliament and Government of Georgia with the proposals for improvement of media environment. Coalition members stressed the topics, reforming of which in their opinion is crucial for improving the media environment.Proposals of the Coalition "For Media Advocacy” to the future Government and Parliament Source:osgf.ge

Tbilisi. The civil society organization "Transparency International – Georgia” echoes the statement of the Acting Minister of Finance, in which he had stated that the new tax amnesty will be prepared for the Public Broadcaster. "Transparency International – Georgia” believes that the tax amnesty creates unfair competitive environment and gives advantage to the televisions enjoying political support.For full text. Source:transparency.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti.On October15, within the framework of the "Civic Education and Teachers' Training Program", the organization Akhaltsikhe Youth Center has announced a contest on social media issues for the pupils of the Samtskhe-Javakheti public school.Topic of the contest is "Pros and cons of social media".According to the contest requirements, interested persons must create blogs or use already created ones for posting the information, drawings or photos depicting the positive and negative sides of a social media.Deadline for submitting the contest works is October 23.

Adjara.The discussion was held on October 13 in the Batumi Press Cafe on – "Television channel 25, new owner and the state". This discussion was held as part of the project – "Development of Democratic Ideas". representatives of political parties and CSOs, students and journalists of local media outlets have participated in the discussion. The participants have discussed the developments accompanying the sale of "TV 25". Recording of the discussion (Geo)

Tbilisi. The Eurasia Partnership Foundation released a statement on October 11 concerning the television program "European Choice”. The statement Source: epfound.ge

Tbilisi. "Transparency International – Georgia” echoes the closure of programs on the Public Broadcaster and releases the statement, in which it calls on the Public Broadcaster to focus on its own mission and ensure the protection of staff from the political pressure. The statement Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The OSCE Representative Office on Freedom of the Media will hold the conference of the South Caucasus countries on October 11-12. The topic of the conference is "From Traditional to Online Media – Experience and Perspective". Over 80 representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will participate in the conference, including the journalists, international experts, civil sector representatives and scientists. On the first day of the conference the international and local media experts will talk about the international standards of social and online media. Media achievements of all three states will be discussed on the second day. Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics condemns the decision of the newspaper "Asaval-Dasavali" to publicize the personal data of concrete individuals. The newspaper has published the personal data of the employees of the Gldani Prison #8. The statement (Geo) Source: qartia.org.ge

Tbilisi. On September 28 the "Human Rights Center" has held the press-conference and released the results of two periodic reports on media monitoring of the coverage of parliamentary elections. As part of the monitoring, the observers of the Human Rights Center observed the secret political, social and paid political advertisings aired on the following television channels: Public Broadcaster, Imedi, Rustavi 2, Kavkasia, Maestro and 9th Channel. Released reports cover the results of media monitoring of coverage of parliamentary elections for the period of 27 August to 9 September. Media monitoring is carried out within the framework of the USAID-funded four-year project "Building Trust Towards Electoral Processes", which is implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). The results of August 27 - September 2 (Geo) The results of September 3 - September 9 (Geo) Source: humanrights.ge