Tbilisi. Since 1 July 2012, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information monitors the social networks of the Georgian TV-media. Within the scope of monitoring, the information published on the official Facebook pages of "Rustavi 2”, "Imedi”, "9th Channel”, "Maestro” and "Public Broadcaster” is analyzed. For full text Source: eparticipationge.wordpress.com

Tbilisi. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association offers recommendations to the media on the coverage of election processes. In addition, media representatives will be able to get familiar with the pre-election and mandatory legal documents. Coverage of election processes – Recommendations for the media Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. The "Media Development Fund” has presented the monitoring results on the topic: "Coverage of education-related issues in Georgian media”. The monitoring was carried out as part of the project – "Media Monitoring – For the Development of Responsible and Accountable Media”. The project is supported by the "Open Society – Georgia” Foundation. This report includes the analysis of published articles and aired TV stories on the topic of education for the period of 15 May to 15 June 2012. The Report Source: media.ge

Tbilisi. Internews – Georgia has released another pre-election monitoring report on the news editions of regional televisions, which covers the period of 30 July – 12 August, 2012. The monitoring is carried out within the framework of the four-year project "Increased Trust in Electoral Processes” (ITEP) of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), which is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Internews has studied 20 regional television companies. The Report Source: Media.Ge

Tbilisi. The Media Legal Defence Center of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association offers the assistance to media representatives. It expresses readiness to render legal assistance to media representatives in obtaining the accreditation in the Central Election Commission. Full text Source: gyla.ge

Tbilisi. On August 13, the Human Rights Center has presented to the public the results of "media monitoring of coverage of parliamentary elections" in the "Sheraton Metekhi Palace" Hotel. The Human Rights Center conducts media monitoring as part of the 4-year project "Building of Trust towards Electoral Processes" funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES). Within the project framework, the monitors of the Human Rights Center observe the social and paid political advertisings aired on the following TV channels: Public Broadcaster, "Imedi", "Rustavi 2", "Kavkasia", "Maestro" and "9th Channel". Media monitoring aims to examine the trends of airing the social and political ads by media during the pre-election period, expose the secret political advertisings and to develop recommendations focused on improvement of electoral environment. Report – 18 June - 29 July Source:humanrights.ge

Tbilisi. On August 10 "Transparency International - Georgia" has released the analysis of television broadcasting of Georgia. It covers the media developments during the pre-election period. The Report Source:transparency.ge

Tbilisi."Media Development Foundation" has released the media-monitoring results on the topic "Coverage of conflicts in the Georgian media". Observations, main target of which were the developments around the separatist regions of Georgia, were carried out over a month and covered the spring of 2012. This period of time was selected on purpose, as it coincided with the so-called presidential elections in the separatist South Ossetia and the de-facto parliamentary elections in Abkhazia. Both the TV and print media outlets were selected as the monitoring objects. In particular, the stories aired by five TV companies - 1st Channel of Public Broadcaster, Rustavi 2, Imedi, Kavkasia and Maestro - in the news editions were analyzed. Publications printed by the weekly editions - KvirisPalitra, Asaval-Dasavali and Kronika - were observed from the print media. Within the scope of monitoring the emphasis was made on the quantitative and content components. For full text Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. On August 1, the civil society organization "Internews Georgia" released the radio monitoring results. The monitoring covered the period from 12 June to 23 July 2012. The researchers observed the evening news editions of 12 radio stations: Radio 1, Imedi, Utsnobi, Palitra, ApkhazetisKhma, TskheliShokoladi, Hereti (Lagodekhi), Atinati (Zugdidi), DzveliKalaki (Kutaisi), Green Wave, Fortuna and Radio Liberty. The described pre-election media monitoring is carried out with the support of the EU and the UN Development Program. The monitoring took off on May 11 of this year and will continue until December. The monitoring report is published on a monthly basis. Source:media.ge Report

Kakheti. The training in the coverage of HIV/AIDS issues for the journalists was held in July 2012 in Lopota. 11 journalists from various media outlets have attended the training. The meeting was held within the framework of the law, media and health project of the "Open Society - Georgia" Foundation. For details see the video Source: osgf.ge

Adjara. Internews-Georgia has organized the opening of the summer media camp. 21 camp participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will undergo theoretical and practical seminars for three weeks in the following topics: foundations of TV journalism, art of preparing stories, computer and video editing, conflict analysis, new media and TV journalism, delivered by the BBC journalist Amanda Harper. During the summer media camp the news edition prepared by the adolescents will be aired live through the local television. In addition, from September the media camp participants will start preparing the youth TV program "Our Express", which will be broadcast by the Public Broadcaster. Media camp is organized as part of the international project "Kids' Crossroads", which is funded by the Conflict Pool of the British Embassies accredited in the South Caucasus countries. Source: media.ge For full text

Adjara. On August 1, the office of "Transparency International - Georgia" has presented the report on the recent study carried out in the field of media. The report focuses on the facts preventing journalistic activities in the regions. The report states that such facts have become more frequent recently, which may be related to the 2012 parliamentary elections. Civil society and media representatives have attended the meeting. The project is funded by USAID and IREX.

Imereti. "Transparency International - Georgia" presented the new project on July 30 in Kutaisi, in the Civic Engagement Center. Studies carried out by the organization have revealed problems of relations between the regional media and self-governments. In addition, timely access to public information is of concern also, which prevents media from timely reacting to this or that development. These very issues were discussed at the meeting attended by the representatives of various Kutaisi-based civil society organizations, political parties and media.

Tbilisi. On July 30 the coalition "Media Advocacy" has organized the debates on practical implementation of the so-called "Must Carry" principle of the mandatory broadcasting transit. The representatives of the National Communications Commission, cable operators, media, international and civil society organizations have participated in the meeting. In the opinion of CSO representatives, the "Must Carry" principle affects only a part of voters, but nevertheless it is crucial for forming the pluralist environment ahead of the elections. As agreed at the meeting, the Georgian National Communications Commission will develop the resolution on the "Approval of Procedure for Media Participation and Its Application in the Election Process" in cooperation with the civil society organizations. Source: media.ge

Imereti. A public discussion on the prospects of tourism development was held on July 27 in the Kutaisi Civic Engagement Center. The meeting aimed at informing the citizens about major trends of tourism development and resolving the problematic issues in this respect. Staff members of the Office of Economic Policy and Strategic Development of the Kutaisi City Hall, civil society organizations, tourist agencies and media representatives have participated in the interactive discussion.

Tbilisi. On July 26 the coalition Media Advocacy has addressed the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Prosecutor’s Office concerning the arrest of antennas belonging to TV company Maestro. For full text – http://www.media.ge/stories/koalitsiamediaadvokatir0 Source:media.ge

Tbilisi. The Georgian Media Legal Defense Center reacts to recent incidents of prevention of journalist activities and demands adequate reaction so that the facts of prevention are avoided in the future. Statement – http://gyla.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1407%3A2012-07-26-09-20-34&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=177&lang=ka Source:gyla.ge

Samtskhe-Javakheti.On July 24, the coalition "For Freedom of Choice" held the meeting in the Akhaltsikhe Civic Engagement Center with the representatives of local civil society and media organizations and political parties. At the meeting the coalition representatives have informed the audience about the objectives and action plans of "This Affects You Too" campaign, as well as the problems of electoral environment and necessary measures for its improvement. Leaders of the coalition "For Freedom of Choice" have attended the meeting. They have discussed the issues of reflecting the so-called "must carry" and "must offer" principles in the legislation, the positive and negative aspects of amendments to the law, as well as the "Code of Behavior" of political parties during the election period. "It is important to have close contacts between the Tbilisi-based and local organizations and to exchange opinions and work on these problems so that the public life is invigorated not only in Tbilisi but the regions as well", said Irakli Melashvili. Similar meetings have already been held in various regions of Georgia. The coalition "For Freedom of Choice" plans to have an observer mission and deliver trainings in Samtskhe-Javakheti in the future.

Tbilisi. "Find it! Film it! File it!” – is the slogan that the "Media House Georgia” launches a new project that envisages the photo and video contest for the citizen journalists. Telavi is selected as the pilot region of the project. Anyone over the age of 15 can participate in the contest. "The Place Where I Live” is the key topic of the contest. Winners in each category (photo and video materials) will receive PC Tablets, while all entrants will receive the certificates of participation. For additional information please see following link

Samtskhe-Javakheti. With the support of international organizations (USAID, UNAG, ANI, ECMI, UNDP), the Akhalkalaki Office of the Public Defender of Georgia hosted a round table on the topic: "System of provision of information on ongoing developments in the country to national minorities living in Samtskhe-Javakheti and the coverage of national minority issues in the Georgian media”. The representatives of central and regional media and non-governmental and human rights organizations have participated in the meeting-discussion. At the end of a round table the recommendations on improvement of the process of informing national minorities were developed. The necessity of cooperation between the central and local media was particularly emphasized.

Guria. The Civic Development Institute, which implements the project "Citizen Journalists for Free and Fair Elections" in 11 municipalities of Georgia (including Ozurgeti), held meetings on July 12 and 13 with the representatives of Ozurgeti's public. The project is funded by the UN Development Program.

Adjara. On July 14, the "Civic Development Center" met with the representatives of the civil society organizations in the Batumi Civic Engagement Center and informed them about the details of the project "Citizen Journalists for the Free and Fair Elections". The project encompasses 11 cities of Georgia, whose residents - active citizens and professional journalists - will try to obtain and disseminate information on the ongoing developments in Georgia prior to the elections, during the polling day and throughout the subsequent days. The project aims at covering the elections in a coordinated manner. Within the project framework, 110 articles will be written and published, and 3 detailed stories and 2 short films will be prepared. 5 training modules will be developed and trainings will be delivered to 22 professional journalists participating in the project. The project is funded by the UN Democracy Fund.