US Ambassador to Georgia Yan Kelly made a statement about the latest developments around Rustavi-2 TV Company. He said that US supported independence of media and expressed hope that Georgia would be successful in that aspect.“We would not like to see limitation of media space. Georgia is recognized as a fair country being a model of media freedom and pluralistic media environment,” Kelly stated. 

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) joined the memorandum, which national and regional broadcasters concluded. The aim of the memorandum is coverage of children’s issues by protecting professional and ethic standards.Also, based on the memorandum, the broadcasters take the obligation to expand the list of interested persons in commissions, which receive complaints about underage persons. 

Giorgi Gvimradze, the newly-appointed Director of News and Current Affairs of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) made a statement.Gvimradze talked about his past activities and future plans in response to the information released by the media. He reported that foreign specialists would arrive in Georgia on October 26 to help the GPB in establishment of modern-type integrated newsroom. 

A private national French TV Company TF1 reported about the Georgian National Rugby Team “Borjghalosnebi” and the matches which the team held on the World Cup. The article on the TV Company’s site says that “The tournament of seven nations with participation of the Georgian team is a wonderful idea the realization of which is possible.” According to the article, Georgians showed best style and technique of rugby play. 

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) will soon continue its activities in line with a renovated structure. The Board of Trustees of GPB unanimously approved the changes to be made into General Regulations concerning structural reorganization.  Transformation of GPB will occur gradually. Multi-media newsroom will be established; foreign specialists will become involved in transformation process of Information Service starting end of October. Structural changes will refer to the entire broadcaster: Block of new and developing news, multimedia block, creative block, Production and technical maintenance group. Also based on General Regulations, Executive Council will be established, which will have counseling-coordination functions.  It will ensure communication and coordination among different structures of GPB. 

The bureau session was held today. The Bureau rejected the request of the National Movement about considering the Rustavi 2 TV company issue. Rules of Procedures were named as an argument.

Giorgi Baratashvili, General Director of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) presented Giorgi Gvimradze, who will serve as a new head of Information Service of GPB starting today.  Giorgi Gvimradze has been working over the strategic document of the Public Broadcaster for a year.

A meeting was held with representatives of mass media regarding implementation of an action plan regarding visa liberalization between Georgia and European Union. Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister and Deputy State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Affairs held the meeting with journalists. Discussions were held about activation of information campaign and elaboration of corresponding instructions. 

The special commission of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) is discussing the new  submitted projects.The Commission is staffed by invited experts and employees of the Public Broadcaster.The second round of the selection will be presumably held in several weeks and a final decision will be taken regarding the projects.

Rustavi-2 TV Company today will file a lawsuit to complain over sealing fact of its property. Lawyers of TV Company claim that the judge did not have to make such a decision despite demand of businessman Kibar Khalvashi regarding ceding of company shares. In case, the decision made by City Court is not reversed, TV Company will have to continue working under sealed-property conditions during several months or even for a year. 

Conflict took place between protesters and law enforcers during preparation of a rally at the Governmental Administration. Lekso Machavariani, an employee of “Tabula” TV Company was detained on charge of resistance to the police. The protest rally with the slogan “Stop Russia” is still ongoing. 

The Georgian government will return 1, 073,076 GEL to 30 TV broadcasters. Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development held a press conference in that regard. The Ministry will ensure return of license taxes paid in advance before transformation onto digital broadcasting. The money was allocated from the government’s Reserve Fund. 

Nino Zautashvili, Hostess of “Real Space” program of First Channel has received Joshua Frydman and GIPA prize for the best journalistic work.Zautashvili received the prize for coverage about Sakdrisi gold mine. Other media representatives were awarded for TV stories and newspaper articles.  

A seminar was held for representatives of mass media regarding transformation into digital broadcasting. Journalists were provided with full information regarding proper coverage of events. A competition will be announced for journalists after the seminar. The jury will reveal three best works in Georgia’s two cities – Tbilisi and Batumi. 

Grigol Gogelia, Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) presented one year report to the Parliament. Gogelia focused on financial and budget planning issues. According to him, the Public Broadcaster managed to cover debt in amount of 5 million GEL during the last year. MPs also had questions regarding the action plan and staff policy of the Broadcaster. The special training for journalists conducted by international trainers was also the issue of discussions. 

Georgia will transform onto digital broadcasting starting June 17. The reform, which is one of the requirements of European Union, will spread to every family. However, only those, who use ordinary antennas, will have to buy special devices and equipment. A campaign is already launched in the country with purpose of more informing of the population about new standards of broadcasting. 

Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili demands that the Georgian mass media apologized for the released information about alleged participation of Georgian soldiers in child sex abuse in Central African Republic.  “The move is frustrating. The mass media prepared reports based on some unknown source without verification of information and insulted Georgian Armed Forces,” PM said. 

Piece of advice to mass media from Chairman of the Parliamentary Healthcare Committee – Dimitri Khundadze believes that the media should be limited of reporting about suicide facts. Deputy Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs and psychiatrists, who are members of Scientific-Consultation Council established at the committee, share the same viewpoint. The issue was discussed during the sitting of the council earlier today. 

An international conference at the initiative of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) and European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is being held at Radisson Hotel.The conference has to do with institutional and legal challenges of GPB transformation and cooperation means. Representatives of public broadcasters from 6 countries from Caucasus region and Eastern European states arrived in Tbilisi. The participants will share experience and consider joint projects.  

Results of the research about the latest ratings of Georgian political parities conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) will become known to the public on Friday. The results have already been introduced to Free Democrats Party. The party reported that the results are promising, and that the party led by former defense minister Irakli Alasania leads on the list.