Journalists’ group to advocate for free press

A group of journalists, concerned with what they say is growing pressure on the news media in Georgia, have banded together into an advocacy group called Journalists for Free Speech.

“Our focus will be on legislation, but of course not only that. One of the most acute problems is making better laws. These days, some laws give the chance to many bureaucrats to manipulate [the media],” founder Mamuka Ghlonti, chief of the television station Maestro, told radio station Tavisupleba yesterday.

Among the laws they will fight to change, leaders of the group say, is the ban on video cameras and tape recorders in courtrooms.

“We, journalists, consider it is necessary to protect our rights not only from the authorities, but also from other political powers,” said another founding member, Eliso Chapidze, an editor of the newspaper Rezonansi.

She said local media outlets have already agreed to cover the organization’s work, which will be done through rallies, negotiations and media campaigns.

Ghlonti and Chapidze have faced professional travails of their own. Ghlonti’s television station has been repeatedly denied a license to broadcast political coverage, and Chapidze was assaulted by a group of men at a polling station during the parliamentary elections after she challenged their presence.

“What is happening today is our fault,” said a former producer at Mze TV, Nino Zhizhilashvili, speaking to the Tavispuleba radio station. “We couldn’t speak louder about our rights. Maybe we’ll do more if we are together. The fact is, we are on the losing team right now.”

The group counts about 50 members so far.

The effort is admirable and necessary, says Ucha Nanuashvili, the head of the Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre, but probably futile.

“The government uses all its resources to totally control the media,” he told the Messenger. “Creating [Journalists for Free Speech] is a positive fact, but it’s a little late. Several serious news sources have already been closed down. But better late than never.”

He says freedom of press ultimately depends on the government’s will.

“International organizations must push our authorities to make serious changes,” Nanuashvili said.

Georgian officials say the country’s media is healthy and free.

“There are no problems with free speech in Georgia,” said President Mikheil Saakashvili in a January speech. He said there are instead problems with a “lack of professionalism among journalists.”

But some outside observers see a worrisome trend within the country.

US-based democracy watch-dog Freedom House ranked Georgia 128th in the world in terms of press freedom in 2008, down from 120th the year before.