Price Rises on Press

Since tax allowances were abolished on press on January 1 2007, independent newspapers have faced many difficulties and the situation in the regions is particularly complicated. Many publications have not been able to publish their editions frequently. The progressive newspapers that were critical and locked horns with the government are no longer published.

Nato Sarkisashvili, technical editor for the Kakheti regional newspaper “Imedi”, said in her conversation with the Human Rights Center, “if we do not raise the price of our newspaper, we will have to close.”

“Four independent regional newspapers used to be published in Kakheti. Three of them were weekly editions. Currently, only two of them are being published. The newspapers faced great difficulties in the absence of grants. The region of Kakheti is extremely poor and the population is not too keen on buying newspapers. The budget of the edition is allocated with the funds earned after realization. There are many companies and enterprises in the region that would not be against advertising their activities in those newspapers if the local and regional authorities did not prevent them from cooperating with independent newspapers. As a result, the publishers decided to increase the price on their newspapers by 10 tetri. Next week, Imedi will be sold for 60 tetri,” said the technical editor for the newspaper.

They say at the editorial board of the newspaper, that in similar conditions, together with governmental suppression, it would be impossible to pay taxes that were estimated under the law. Employees of the newspaper are being paid for their articles since February 20. The journalists said that expenses for business trips and communication have been noticeably reduced.

“We have correspondents in several districts in the region. However, we frequently need to travel to various districts to gather information and conduct interviews and sometimes we can do this over the phone.  Everything costs money. Consequently, if expenses on business trips and communication are reduced, it will be reflected in the quality and cost of our publications. Journalists who are working on news materials, journalistic investigations and reportages will suffer. Thorough journalistic investigations demand great expenses. Nearly all employees at the newspaper were transferred to the honorary reimbursement, that means we work on enthusiasm,” said Tamar Makharashvili, correspondent for the newspaper.

“We have information that private companies that were advertising in newspapers were questioned by representatives of the local government and financial police as to why they had placed ads in newspapers. Representatives of the above-mentioned bodies order entrepreneurs that if they wanted to place some ads for their companies they should cooperate with some other newspapers. In their conversations with advertising agents, businessmen often say that they could use other methods to aid newspapers, but do not want to place official company ads in the newspaper.  “Of course, we refuse such kind of assistance because it can cause serious difficulties to us,” said deputy editor of the newspaper, Medea Djavshanashvili.

According to the newspaper Imedi, the prices on other regional newspapers will also be raised in Georgia. “This question was not easily decided. We thought about the problem for a long time. We wondered whether a customer will be able to buy a newspaper for the increased price. We were afraid we would lose more if we raise prices. Finally, we understood that there was no way out. A person, who says that the newspaper has an editor who is a simple businessman with his/her private business, is very much mistaken. We have discussed the problem with our colleagues from various regions. They had similar ideas regarding the situation. In fact, everything is becoming more expensive. To publish one copy of a newspaper you should pay thirty tetri to a printing shop. In addition, the distribution company needs to get paid and even if the whole edition is realized, the editorial staff is left with no profit,” concluded deputy editor for the newspaper.

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti