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Information Ghettoes

January 31, 2017
 
Information environment in the ethnic minority inhabited regions 

Lana Giorgidze

On January 27, the Public Defender of Georgia held public debates “Information environment in the regions compactly inhabited by the national minorities” in the Hotel Tiflis Palace. Representatives of state institutions, nongovernmental and media organizations participated in the public debate, which was organized within framework of the EU funded project. 

“Today, we discuss the information environment for the national minorities. We already expressed our critical opinions about this issue in our reports but for years the situation remains unchanged and problems are not addressed. Although many initiatives were implemented in this direction recently, it is not enough and more efforts are needed,” the Public Defender of Georgia Ucha Nanuashvili said.
After his presentation, the reporters made speeches. Deputy state minister for reconciliation and civic equality Petre Kankava was among reporters, who spoke about the concrete steps which were taken by the state in this direction. He said the state is determined to make the media more accessible for the national minorities.
“Although the young generation actively visit online media, the elder generation still prefers to get information from the printed media. Thus, the State supports Azerbaijani and Armenian printed editions in the regions. At the same time, we uploaded the 5-language website on our website, which was created by the Public Defender of Georgia. Our priority is to support broadcasting of the radio stations in the regions compactly inhabited by ethnic minorities and we have an innovation in this regard – Kurt-language Radio Station started operation. As for the TV-stations, the news programs of the Public Broadcasting are produced in the languages of national minorities that promote their access to information. We think more can be done in this direction and are ready to hear your recommendations,” Petre Kankava said.

Coordinator of the Council on National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office Koba Chopliani said transition to digital broadcasting also hindered access to information for ethnic minority communities in the regions because they cannot get several-language news offered by the Georgian Public Broadcasting without special gadgets. 

“Many people are engaged in the implementation of the State Strategy but the effect is still weak because media component is weak. It is noteworthy that representatives of ethnic minorities get information from the news programs of other countries because they cannot get alternative information in the Georgian language. The role of the GPB is very crucial but insufficient. Considering the abovementioned facts, so-called information ghettoes are created in the regions,” Koba Chopliani said.

Executive director of the Foundation for Civic Integration Zaur Khalilov also spoke about the negative role of media; he said ethnic minorities are not represented in media; if they are, the context is usually negative. “Unless the media reports about ethnic minorities, they do not watch similar news programs even if the information is presented in 5 languages. The media shall try to attract those people and engage them in the process. As for the regional media, their activities depend on grants that affects stability of their work.”
Editor of the J News Rima Garibyan also confirmed the information that national minorities cannot get information from Georgia media. Garibyan said the survey showed that ethnic Armenian population mostly watch Armenian and Russian TV-Companies. 

The presentations were followed by the discussion; the opinions about the access of information in the regions compactly inhabited by ethnic minorities were voiced. 

Representative of the Center of Tolerance and Diversity under auspices of the Public Defender of Georgia Beka Mindiashvili said the mentioned problems were urgent years ago too and nothing was done to eradicate them. 

“15 years ago I participated in the meeting where the same problems were discussed but nothing has changed since then; moreover the situation has worsened- the only program, which reported about the problems of ethnic minorities, was closed in the Public Broadcasting. The GPB has obligation to report about the minorities but the TV-Company wastes 42 Million GEL per year and is still the lowest-rating TV-station in the country and cannot compete with other media. It would be better if at least half of their annual budget was spent on the promotion of accessible media for minorities. Once the model of the BBC was discussed but was soon forgotten because it was expensive project,” Beka Mindiashvili said.
Representative of the GPB Nino Khidasheli responded to the complaints of the discussion participants about the GPB.

“Sometimes I have an impression that during similar discussions people speak about the problems which no longer exist. The GPB, since September 2016, has done more for the creation of accessible information environment for ethnic minorities than it was done for the past ten years. Many good programs are produced by the GPB, which has quite high rating. The participants here said that ethnic minorities do not see themselves on TV but please speak frankly when you last watched the 6 and 8 O’clock Moambe on the GPB,” Nino Khidasheli addressed the participants of the debates.

The moderator Zviad Koridze summarized the main issues discussed during the debate and noted that the media has huge challenge and it would be good if majority population of the country will also participate in similar debates. 

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