One part of journalists and technical staff of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) held a warning rally outside the building this morning. Protesters demanded increase of salaries and improvement of working conditions. They gave 21-day term to the management for resolution of their problems. Representatives of Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) and Trade Unions were present during the rally in solidarity. GPB management said that reorganization was underway and that correction of salary budget would take place afterwards. 

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) released a statement about coverage of political events during the pre-election campaigning period and 2016 parliamentary elections.  According to the statement, GPB is obliged to cover political development without discrimination, comprehensively and objectively based on programming priorities of 2015-2016. GPB will cover pre-election debates of all qualified political parties and their pre-election congresses. 

Journalist Eka Mishveladze has been presented on post of Press Speaker at Georgian Presidential Administration by Head of Administration Giorgi Abashishvili. Mishveladze said that she would maintain close communication with journalists and said that she would speak about details of some news later. 

The results of the audit for 2015: Georgia’s Public Broadcaster (GPB) received positive conclusion in three types of audit: financial, tax reports and state procurement. The audit was conducted by the internationally recognized auditory company.It should be noted that this year, in addition, audit in financial part was conducted and still a positive conclusion was issued.In 2015 Public Broadcaster managed to cover all financial indebtedness up to 2013 and paid all current financial obligations. According to the Law on Broadcasting “An external auditor appointed by th

A special conference organized by the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is being held on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day marked on May 3. Representatives of media organizations, non-governmental sector and governmental structures are participating in the conference. Challenges, achievements and development plans of the public broadcaster and regional media outlets are being discussed. 

The International Republican Institute (IRI) conducted a survey regarding the audience of various mass media outlets.Based on the results, 80% of respondents regularly watches Rustavi 2 TV Company, 78% - Imedi TV, 45% - Maestro, 19% - Georgian Public Broadcaster, 14% - GDS, 11% - Obieqtivi TV. As for trust to news and political information provided by Georgian TV channels, 67% trusts to Rustavi -2, 67% - Imedi TV, 32% - Maestro, 7% - Obieqtivi, 9% - Public Broadcaster. 

Georgia is the only country in the Caucasus region, where, according to Freedom House, there is partly free press. International human rights organization Freedom House published 2016 Press Freedom Index report, where Georgia gained 49 points in a system where 100 is the highest negative indicator.Freedom House rates Georgia's legal environment with 13 points, political - 20, economic environment - 16.Georgia's neighbors, including Azerbaijan (89 points), Turkey (71 points), Armenia (63 points) and Russia (83 points) were assessed as countries with non-free press.

Discussions into case of Rustavi 2 TV Company are being held at Appeals Court. Judge is withdrawn for making a decision about application of TV Company’s lawyers.Lawyers of Rustavi 2 demanded evasion of Judge of Collegiums Natia Gujabidze. They claimed that Gujabidze was a member of a non-governmental organization which was founded by Judge Tamaz Urtmelidze. Lawyers of Businessman Kibar Khilvashi did not agree with the application and described is as groundless. Khalvashi was given ownership of the company based on the decision of Tbilisi City Court. 

Political situation in Georgia, the country’s foreign policy, Euro-Atlantic integration aspiration and challenges – Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili being on an official visit in France gave an interview to France 24 TV Channel. The presenter also became interested in pre-election environment.  

Georgia has occupied the 64th place out of 180 in Press Freedom Index, an annual ranking of countries compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders organization. Georgia improved the rating in 2016 since it ranked the 69th place in 2015. The organization says that there is transparency with ownership of media outlets, satellite television stations ensure pluralism and fewer facts of violence against journalists are detected. 

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili summed up his 100 days on post during the meeting with hosts of talk-shows of Georgian TV stations last evening. Head of the state answered 20 questions of 10 journalists as part of 2-hour-long meeting. The questions concerned 2016 parliamentary elections, secretly recorded video footage, unfulfilled promises and main challenges facing the country. 

Europol welcomes partnership with Georgia, Austrian media thus commented on Georgia’s joining a new project of Europol. Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in Saltsburg Conference on fight against international crime. Austrian media writes that Georgia, with 4 million population, is the first country in Caucasus region, which joined the new project of international police cooperation. 

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili will answer questions of journalists. Head of the Georgian government will meet with hosts of talk-shows. Kvirikashvili will first introduce representatives of mass media with the 4-point reform plan of the government. The meeting will then continue in Q&A format. The meeting will take place at Techno Park in Tbilisi. 

Eyewitness to the Brussels airport attack Ketevan Kardava Georgian journalist and reporter of “Moambe” News Program of First Channel, Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) gave an interview to CNN about details of her experience of Brussels deadly terrorist attacks.

Adjara TV of Public Broadcaster and its radio received a menacing letter on Facebook page. Employees of Adjara TV reported that authors of the message were threatening with release of video material reflecting private life of different persons by the end of March. The authors of the message cancelled their Facebook page several minutes later. Adjara TV notified law-enforcers about the fact. Investigation is opened into the case.  

Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will shoot films based on 10 scenarios of Aka Morchiladze, Georgian writer and historian. “Days and Nights” will be the title of the new project. GPB begins selection of film directors. Ten winners will be revealed and named on April 29. 

“M-24” TV Channel of Ilia Kikabidze, Founder of Maestro TV LTD will begin broadcasting in several days. The channel will be located in the premises of building belonging to Maka Asatiani, 25% shareholder of Maestro TV Company. The lease agreement was signed with M Investment. The agreement will refer to broadcasting of radio stations Maestro and Vinyl.

Ltd. Maestro Studio is broadcasting without a logo. Irakli Kordzakhia, lawyer of Maestro Director General Levan Gachechiladze says that Bacho Kikabidze, Director instructed the channel’s technical group to broadcast without a logo. The lawyer says that Gachechiladze describes the above-mentioned as sabotage."Kikabidze yesterday tasked the technical group Maestro to continue broadcasting without a logo. Gachechiladze believes that this is an illegal act of sabotage and responsibility for this lies with the “M-Investment” and Bacho Kikabidze", said Kordzakhia.According to him, broadcasting without a logo may seriously harm the channel. “This may bring serious financial damage to the channel, as in the contract with “Imedi” it is directly written that the TV company must necessarily broadcast with a logo,” said Kordzakhia.

Maestro TV Company Director Bacho Kikabidze has been disallowed to use ‘Maestro’ as a name of TV Company. The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court as new director Levan Gachechiladze’s complaint was satisfied. ‘First the court did not satisfy our complaint but we addressed it again and Bacho Kikabidze or any other person has been prohibited to use the name Maestro or act with Maestro brand until the process against Studio Maestro bankruptcy is over,’ Irakli Kordzakhia, Levan Gachechiladze’s lawyer said. Kikabidze planned to launch broadcasting of a new TV Company by using the name – Maestro.  

Levan Gachechiladze plans to sue over the property, logo and asset of Ltd. Studio “Maestro” to the courts. New General Director of the TV Company will file a law suit to the court today.