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Media Environment and Safety of Journalists During the Crisis in Georgia: Threats and Supportive Instruments

Mariam Gersamia, Maia Toradze

Environment and Society, volume 5, issue 5 (2022), 1 pp.

"Viable, free media is a crucial component of democratic progress in Georgia. Thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and gaining independence, the safety of journalists while carrying out professional duties continues to be one of the critical indicators of progress in the country's med ... ia democracy. This research was triggered by the actualization of the acute and, in some ways, spontaneous media threat that arose during the pre-election period. More specifically, on July 5, 2021, two months before Georgia's local self-government municipal elections, media workers fell victim to a premeditated attack by pro-Russian radical groups during the coverage of demonstrations. As a result, 52 journalists from more than ten media outlets, camera operators, and photographers were assaulted. A TV Pirveli cameraman, Lekso Lashkarava, died a few days later due to severe injuries received during the demonstration. The research aims to distinguish the traits prevalent in the media environment during times of crisis and, even more specifically, during the pre-and post-election periods (particularly during the 2021 local government elections in Georgia). The research also responds to how political polarization and crises affect media and the macro and micro threats they reveal. The study identifies these media threats and assesses the reality of the media environment as seen through journalists' eyes. The research covers topics recommended by UNESCO (Towards a Research agenda on the safety of journalists) and examines seven of those ten recommended issues. A mixed research methodology was chosen for research design, more specifically, a sequential explanatory design. The research was conducted in two phases: the first phase involved the accumulation of quantitative data (through an online survey of 183 respondents from 56 media sources) and analysis, followed which the second phase involved qualitative research (3 focus group discussions). The research answers the questions as follows: How safe do media workers feel when performing their professional duties? What kind of threats have emerged during the 2021 pre-election media environment, and what are the expectations? What are some of the support mechanisms for improving the media environment, and what needs to be done to create a safer environment for media workers? Macro (4) and micro (6) media threats were identified during the research process. They are analyzed in sub-chapters in greater detail. These threats are interconnected and have their structure and aims. Media threats, which emerged during the discussion, contribute to self-censorship and escalation of fear, media credibility, reduction of support, and destabilizing media institutional viability. Political polarization and polarization between media organizations were identified as major macro media threats. Micro threats that were identified as a result of polarization are: Stigmatization of journalists and media (labeling them as biased towards certain political parties) and attempted smear campaigns; They are disrupting the execution of journalist duties. Among such actions are creating obstacles to providing a balanced narrative and bringing a quality media product to the public, primarily reflected in a premeditated restriction to sources and surveillance to disrupt the work process. One macro threat that emerged from the online survey and focus-group analysis was the incitement of physical and verbal violence towards journalists (this includes hate speech and the use of aggressive rhetoric by the state). These media threats reinforce self-censorship and fear, destabilize media institutions' viability and negatively affect the demonstration of solidarity and support toward media. One identified macro-threats towards journalists was the lack of investigation of crimes committed against journalists and impunity as an encouraging factor. Additionally, we could consider the malign nature of the Russian propaganda and malign influence in general as an additional factor, which serves as a leitmotif for the entire discussion on another macro threat. As a result of this study, recommendations have been put forward for various stakeholders. Implementing these recommendations will help create a supportive media environment, encourage solidarity, and improve coordination between different stakeholders during and after crises. Research conducted is by the Media and Communication Educational and Research Center (Georgia) with support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s South Caucasus Office and the Federal Republic of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office." (Abstract) more

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Media Literacy and Disinformation Perception Survey

Tamar Kintsurashvili

Tbilisi: Media Development Foundation (MDF) (2022), 37 pp.

"The aim of this research was to study media consumption habits among different age groups and geographical areas, as well as the public's vulnerability to various disinformation and manipulative narratives disseminated in Georgia. The first part of the research concerns media literacy competencies, ... more

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Neglected to Indispensable: Lessons from Beyond Access for Global Public Library Reform and Development

Ari Katz

Public Library Quarterly, volume 41, issue 3 (2022), pp. 273-293

"Beyond Access was the first major global attempt to connect the international development and public library worlds. Taking the form of a series of projects in a dozen countries meant to help catalyze library development around national goals, the program operated from 2011 to 2018. Starting from a ... more

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Media Environment 2022: Threats and Supportive Instruments in Georgia

Gersamia, Mariam, Maia Toradze

Tbilisi: Media and Communication Educational and Research Center "Media Voice" (2022), 76 pp.

"The purpose of this study is to assess the threats and supporting mechanisms present in the Georgian media environment in 2022. Observation of the media environment, similar to the previous year’s research, was based on the evaluation of the participants involved in the research and further compa ... more

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General Overview and Recommendations. Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Georgia, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine

Riga: Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (BCME) (2021), 12 pp.

"The Missing Strategic Holistic Approach Every selected country is going through a process of securitization of the media literacy as part of national security and defence. These changes were made in response to military and informational aggression from Russia, however, each faces the threat at a d ... ifferent scale. In all countries, there is a need for a holistic strategic approach to media literacy. At the same time, this approach has developed at different rates in each country. Nevertheless, in each country there are attempts or plans to create systemic policy with action plans. The main obstacles, however, can be summed up in the following ways: the lack of a holistic vision and evidence-based approach; missing a joint understanding and definition of the role of media literacy in society; low level institutional coordination and cooperation; a lack of resources; and a lack of political will to define and prioritise selected vulnerable groups, including minorities. Government Institutions: Trust, Transparency and the Required Coordination and Cooperation Different approaches are implemented in designing institutional leadership in each country. In Ukraine and Georgia, there are attempts to establish consolidating bodies (separated or based on Ministries). In Latvia and Moldova, there are no clear publicly available strategies for development. Among the most common institutional implementers in all countries are the Ministries responsible for education, culture and digital technologies and transformation. In each country there are attempts (at different stages of implementation) to create governmental agencies and/or platforms to combine media literacy initiatives and activities. At the same time, a strong connection to the government raises concerns within the NGO community, especially in countries with high levels of corruption. There is a clear need for more trust, based on transparency between state and non-state actors. As a result of a missing strategic approach, there are problems with government related cross-institutional cooperation - among ministries, regulators and governmental agencies in every country. While strategic documents underline the priority of critical media literacy and outline the skills needed to evaluate information for well-informed decision making, the dominant approach in all four countries, is for certain government bodies to focus on digital literacies and technical skills, and not on critical thinking. Non-Governmental and International Organisations: Setting the Agenda This lack of understanding, coordination and cooperation among government structures, accompanied by the dominance and importance of non-governmental actors, creates an imbalance in setting the agenda. NGOs mostly get financial resources from international organisations and foreign actors. Donors and supporters through requesting specific projects, developing calls and competing initiatives are transforming the media literacy environment at the AAA level - by selecting actors, defining audiences and endorsing activities. The current agendas of international supporters and donors are aimed to fill gaps - to support the non-governmental community and to create projects for minorities, also in minority languages. However, international organisations need to evaluate interventions, and they need to come up with projects adapted for local audiences, as well as demonstrate successful examples to other non-governmental partners in other countries." (General findings, pages 4-5) more

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Hate Speech 2020

Tina Gogoladze

Media Development Foundation (MDF) (2021), 32 pp.

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Georgia Country Report. Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Georgia, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine

Riga: Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (BCME) (2021), 24 pp.

• The role of Media Literacy in resilience building is considered to be of pivotal importance, which is further stressed in the policy documents published within the last couple of years in Georgia. However, it is essential to underscore that the failure of achieving consensus on strategic approac ... hes between state and non-state actors remains the central obstacle towards enhancing the cooperation among the key stakeholders. Therefore, there is a need to create a cooperation format among governmental and non-governmental organisations that would ensure the elimination of mistrust, political neutrality and enhance the overall resilience level of the media consumers. • In order to define the target audience and evaluate the programmes carried out by various organisations, one requires comprehensive research focused on media consumption habits and the impact of media literacy programmes on beneficiaries. • Apart from evaluating the knowledge and skills that beneficiaries gain from media literacy projects, it is also essential to analyse the methodology that organisations use with different audiences to develop and refine their respective methodologies and tailor them better to diverse audiences. • The expertise of non-state actors with various resources needs to be utilised to achieve project sustainability and long-term results. In addition, these experiences should be incorporated into the formal academic processes. • Given the importance of media and digital literacy as transferable skills defined by the National Curriculum, there is a need to advance critical thinking from an early age, which by itself can be achieved by introducing media literacy as a compulsory subject in the school curricula. • Coming up with joint curricula-based assessment indicators and media and digital literacy definitions remains another essential priority since there is a lack of unified definitions among stakeholders. • Content diversification is crucial for Media outlets. This can be carried out by introducing MIL components not only in educational but entertainment content as well. • In the framework of preparing programmes intended to build the resilience of society, the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) should cooperate with non-state actors to promote media literacy initiatives and pay special attention to the most vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities. • There is an evident coordination problem across donors that often choose overlapping regions and target audiences, thus neglecting some of the most vulnerable audiences. Hence, the local representatives of international organisations should cooperate on setting strategic priorities to optimise resources. • Donors should allocate more resources to conduct evaluations and facilitate the implementation of best practices on the ground." (Concluding remarks, pages 20-21) more

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The Voice of Women and Challenges of Gender Equality in Georgian Media

Mariam Gersamia, Maia Toradze, Liana Markariani

In: Handbook of Research on Discrimination, Gender Disparity, and Safety Risks in Journalism

Sadia Jamil, Baris Çoban, Bora Ataman, Gifty Appiah-Adjei (eds.)

Hershey, PA: IGI Global (2021), pp. 232-250

"This research analyzes the media landscape in Georgia from a gender equality perspective to identify the existing stereotypes dominant in Georgian media organizations. Georgia (country) faces the challenges related to femicide, domestic violence, employment of women, early or forced marriages, sexu ... more

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Georgia: Media Consumption and Audience Perceptions Research

Thomson Reuters Foundation (2021), 45 pp.

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Georgia: An Information Ecosystem Assessment

Anna Keshelashvili, Maia Mikashavidze, Ekaterine Basilaia, Teo Kavtaradze, Mariam Menabde

Internews (2021), 3 parts

"Internews’ Global Tech and Europe & Eurasia teams conducted an extensive information ecosystem assessment (IEA) study in Georgia with a team of local researchers and experts. This IEA examines every region in Georgia, including minority language communities, and adopts a specific focus on social ... more

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Vibrant Information Barometer: Europe & Eurasia

Washington, DC: IREX (2021), 219 pp.

"The 2021 Europe & Eurasia Vibrant Information Barometer (VIBE) publication stands on the shoulders of IREX’s almost 20 years of the Media Sustainability Index (MSI), which was last published in 2019. Through VIBE, IREX aims to capture a modern era where many people around the world are simultaneo ... more

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Media Environment Before and After 2021 Elections: Threats and Supportive Instruments

Mariam Gersamia, Maia Toradze

Tbilisi: Media and Communication Educational and Research Center (MCERC) (2021), 65 pp.

"The study revealed the macro and micro media threats that come to light in the digital and physical media environments prior to and following elections. The media environment observed during the 2021 self-government elections was representative of the reality seen through the eyes of media workers, ... more

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Media Literacy Sector Mapping in Georgia, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine: General Overview and Recommendations

Baltic Centre for Media Excellence (2021), 12 pp.

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5 Lessons Learned from Investing in Libraries for National Development

Ari Katz

www.ictworks.org (2021)

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Financial Transparency of Media 2020

Mariam Pataridze, Ani Kistauri

Media Development Foundation (MDF) (2021), 40 pp.

"The following report on the financial transparency of media represents data of 2020. In order to illustrate the extent to which budgetary funding influences the editorial policy of the media or to observe the types of editorial policies the concerned media outlets pursue, it also discusses some exa ... more

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Georgian Mainstream Media in a Polarized Political Environment: A Victim and an Accomplice

Lasha Kavtaradze

Caucasus Analytical Digest, issue 123 (2021), pp. 13-17

"This paper problematizes the role of the Georgian mainstream media in the current polarized political environment. First, political actors, including the government and political parties, significantly affect the way these media organizations work. Second, mainstream media outlets behave as direct ... more

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How to lose the information war: Russia, fake news, and the future of conflict

Nina Jankowicz

London: Tauris (2020), xxvii, 259 pp.

"Since the start of the Trump era, the United States and the Western world has finally begun to wake up to the threat of online warfare and the attacks from Russia. The question no one seems to be able to answer is: what can the West do about it? Central and Eastern European states, however, have be ... more

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Gender Aspects of Employment and Career in the Media Sector of Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine: Comparative Analysis

Stockholm; Kalmar: Fojo Media Institute (2020), 28 pp.

"Since 2016, Fojo Media Institute, together with local partners, has investigated media landscapes in Eastern Europe from a gender perspective, to find out how women and men in the industry perceive their work life: What are their options to have influence and a fulfilling career? What are the diffe ... more

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Media Influence Matrix: Georgia

Giorgi Jangiani

Budapest: Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS) (2020), 86 pp.

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Election Monitoring Report: Sexism and Gender Stereotypes in Social Media

Keti Mskhiladze

Media Development Foundation (MDF) (2020), 49 pp.