Tbilisi: Georgia University Tbilisi organized a presentation on the challenges to media in the present scenario on 6 February 2024. The main theme of the presentation was “Media Environment 2023: challenges in political polarisation and crisis in Georgia”.
This presentation was inaugurated by the German ambassador to Georgia, Ernst-Peter Fischer. Representatives of the diplomatic corps, media houses, and non-governmental organisations attended.
The presentation was prepared by the two students of the university with the active cooperation of professors. It highlighted the political polarisations which affect the media, journalists, quality and credibility of the media.
On the occasion of the presentation twenty representatives of the 18 media outlets assessed and analyzed the present trend in the media industry.
The key speakers expressed their views on the different issues, they demanded reducing polarisation during the news presentation. It was also agreed that steps must be taken to counter the misinformation along with measures for the safety and security of media representatives.
After the presentation, there was also a general discussion arranged by Natia Kaadze, Dean of the School of Social Sciences (University of Georgia), and Teona Tshhomelidze.
The main authors of the presentation were the following:
1. Mariam Gersamia, Professor (Tbilisi State University), Founder of “Mediaakhmi”,
2. Maia Toradze, Associate Professor (Tbilisi State University),
3. Mari Bandzeladze, Associate Professor (University of Georgia).
The speakers also said that time is very crucial as the misinformation damaged the credibility of mainstream media. The advent of the internet and the independent journalist’s role were also discussed during the general discussion.
All the key speakers also said that joint and collective efforts are needed to restore mainstream media’s lost credibility. He said this is also time to launch a large drive against the spread of misinformation.
At the end of the event the the chief guests of the event were also honoured by the university administration.
