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Palitra TV has violated ethical principles – Charter of Journalistic Ethics

October 22, 2013
 
Gela Bochikashvili, Media.ge 

Shorena Kalandia representative of Tsiuri Bakaradze (Kvaratskhelia) complained against Palitra TV journalist Maka Kobalia at the Charter of Journalistic Ethics of Georgia for a video-footage recorded without permission.  Maka Kobalia made a video-report for Palitra TV showing how mother looked after her son deceased 18 years ago. 

Complaint lodged to the Charter reads that several days before the video-report was circulated Maka Kobalia visited Tsiuri Batsikadze and asked to see the grave of Jony Bakaradze (deceased 18 years ago).  He was not buried and parents looked after his corpse.  According to the applicant the conversation was friendly, in Mengrelian dialect and Tsiuri Bakaradze did not expect the video would be circulated by media. 

Shorena Kalandia, who represents the interests of the family of the deceased, the circulated video-material has put Marika Bakaradze, daughter of the deceased, to despair; she even threated to commit suicide. 

Complaint lodged to the Charter is accompanied with a statement by Vepkhia Chitanava, who has connected the family with the journalist.  Chitanava clarifies in the letter that Maka Kobalia has not introduced herself to Bakaradzes as a journalist of Palitra TV and has not asked permission to record. 

Maka Kobalia is not a signee to the Charter of Journalistic Ethics.  Accordingly the Charter Council does not have the right to make conclusion on the complaint lodged.  According to the Charter the journalist has refused to cooperate with them so the Charter has only expressed its opinion. 

The Charter believes that one of the most fundamental principles of ethical journalism is obtaining information by fair methods.  Hidden recording is admissible only in case of existence of public interests. 

“The story of preserving Jony Bakaradze’s corpse is not an event that can decisively change public opinion and is part of private life.  That is why the journalist had no inevitable necessity for hidden recording,” the Charter statement reads. 

Charter of Journalistic Ethics believes that in the disputable material the journalist did not respect and did not approach with care the private life of others. 

Palitra TV has been holding the satellite broadcasting license since 15 April 2013.  Due to that the Charter believes that it is obliged to act according to the principles provided for by the Code of Conduct of Broadcasters – insuring of private life. 

The Charter of Journalistic Ethics plans to address Palitra Holding for extracting the given material from its media-outlets. 

Media.ge has not been able to contact Maka Kobalia yet.

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