Freedom of the Press
Media Environment 2024: The Fight for Trust and Freedom
To read the full study click on the link
"Media Voice" presented its annual study, titled "Media Environment 2024: The Fight for Trust and Freedom," on March 26. The event brought together key representatives from the media, non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic corps, and academia. The presentation was officially opened by Ernst-Peter Fischer, the German Ambassador to Georgia.
Katrin, Bannach, Head of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom South Caucasus Office, addressed the audience and highlighted in her remarks:
"“Freedom of spoken and written speech is of great importance and for this reason, it is necessary to limit the power of officials. If a judge commits an illegal act, an official takes a bribe or oppresses someone, who will save the powerless? Free speech” - this quote is from Mikheil Javakhishvili, Georgian writer shot by the Soviet Regime 1937. You find this quote in the publication we launched 2 years ago of which today’s publication is a follow-up. However, I find the quote even more relevant in today’s Georgia. Since 4 years, Media Voice is publishing this report on “Media environment” which looks at threats and formulates suggestions.
Because the media environment has steadily worsened, we found it relevant to update it annually. What is standing out in all those reports: the predominant emotion encountered is fear. This fear serves as a foundation for self-censorship. The study reports that it has become a norm to commit violence against media and stigmatise the media with the goal of suppressing critical voices.
This is particularly harmful in election years, as it was 2024, because the media is an important source of election-related information for the public. Amongst other stakeholders, you need free media for free, fair and transparent elections. But its importance goes much beyond elections: reporting about the truth, incl. inconvenient truth, is required for a healthy democracy. Media intimidation tactics mirror strategies of other autocracies. Another challenge of the media environment today: not only has the media to deal with an invasion of “trolls and bots”. It operates in an environment with maybe the most efficient Russian propaganda machinery ever in history. In another FNF study, researchers have studied Russian narratives in Armenian and Georgian media. The propaganda promoting these narratives is powerful, because it is based on the manipulation of fears of social change.
Again fear! The fear that so called “immoral globalists might destroy traditional values and national identities”. This is right-wing populism. What we encounter in Georgian or Armenian or even in German media, it’s too short sighted to call it Russian propaganda only. It is similar to and probably copied from Russian narratives. However, it is produced by local stakeholders in Georgia or Germany (while being supported by Russian propaganda tools). Right wing populism is a challenge all over the world, as is disinformation. That is why it´s important to work together on this in an alliance of democracies, because we are facing the same threats. Intensified propaganda and disinformation (regardless where from) requires now even more vigilance from journalists and society itself. It is now even more urgent to strengthen the media environment.
How? Have a look at the recommendations in the study. I like the study, because it’s a profound research and a very practical publication with very concrete recommendation to government, opposition, media, international organisations, academia - to all of us! I also find it inspiring to read the quotes in includes, e.g. the quote in the report 2 years ago: “democracies is created by self-confident democrats” by Sabine Leutheusser Schnarrenberger. In the publication, she is called a “human rights defender”, which is a humble understatement. She is also a former German Minister of Justice and currently the Deputy Chairwomen of FNF.
FNF South Caucasus translated her book “fear eats freedom’ into Georgian language, which she wrote to celebrate 70th birthday of the German constitution focussing on the legal basis of our democracy. It fits well to 2 chapters in the current media environment report book: 1. instrumentalisation of law against the media, and 2. chilling affects of the law on media agenda. Both deal with legal questions impacting media freedom. While Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger wrote about Germany, she reminds us that democracy and rule of law always need to be guarded and fostered, especially in times when people have fears, e.g. because of wars, and governments shrink freedom of citizens on the name of security. She reminds us that when we talk about rule of law, it is important to distinguish it from rule by law, because not every law safeguards the dignity of each human and respects human rights. Laws can also be used against freedom and democracy. The only safeguard against this threat - Mikheil Javakhishvili reminded us of it is – is ”free speech”, for which you need a functioning system of checks and balance in a lively democracy in which media plays a crucial role. The authors have highlighted this in their study. This 4 th study published with support of German foreign ministry. I would like to welcome German Ambassador here and thank him for his contribution to this event!"
Professor Mariam Gersamia, Chair of "Media Voice" presented findings of the research. The study highlights how the challenges of the “super-election year” affected the media credibility and reliability, journalistic activity and product quality. It analyses the impact of the Agents/Russian Law and pre-election and post-election protests on the information ecosystem. In doing so, it assesses the obstacles and support mechanisms in the media on the part of various actors; what and how trust in the media and other actors is affected and what mechanisms can be used to increase this trust; The study highlights how the media operates under kleptocratic rule, how it copes with Russian influences, as well as the challenges posed by disinformation and potent propaganda in the context of technological challenges. A significant facet of the study involves an examination of the evolving role of the media environment in the context of Georgia’s European integration process.
In addition, for the first time, this year’s study highlights the role of citizen journalism in crisis situations, as well as new tools and examples of transformative experiences in the fight for media survival. The role of targeted sanctions and international courts necessary to prevent impunity for crimes committed against journalists is highlighted.
The media environment was examined, based on the evaluations of 23 respondents from 20 media outlets, their perceptions of reality and further comparative analysis. Based on the research, recommendations have been developed to strengthen journalists' safety, build trust in the media, enhance solidarity, halt the instrumentalisation of laws against the media, and more.
Authors of the study are: Mariam Gersamia, Professor, Tbilisi State University, Founder of “media Voice”, Ekaterine Gigauri, Senior Fellow at “Media Voice”; Gvantsa Gurgenidze, Fellow at “Media Voice”.
The presentation was followed by an engaging stakeholder discussion, where key participants shared insights, raised pertinent questions, and exchanged diverse perspectives on the topic.
The study was conducted with the support of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit and the German Federal Foreign Office.
Media coverage links:
Civil.ge, March 26: https://civil.ge/archives/671972?fbclid=IwY2xjawJXjONleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZ2fKf0kzp6fZW3IvCCphFtZU2udTKhplr0jh5Bh5oQpPrOxO5eYII9G6Q_aem_lT_MiFhywRB6z5OZc-AWzQ
https://civil.ge/ka/archives/672087
Messenger, March 27: https://www.messenger.com.ge/issues/5866_march_27_2025/5866_liza1.html
InterPressNews, March 26:
TV Pirveli News: on March 27, 13:00.
TV Pirveli Talk show “Pirvelamde”, March 27; https://www.facebook.com/Pirvelamde/videos/542860518832761/
Formula TV News, March 26: https://www.facebook.com/TVFormula/videos/1156877419503377/
Formula TV Talk Show “Koveldge”, March 27: https://www.facebook.com/formulanews.ge/videos/1201382208317998/
Public Broadcaster Ajara, March 27: https://www.facebook.com/AjaraTV/videos/1218442966684867/
Euronews Georgia:
https://www.facebook.com/euronewsgeorgia/videos/1918957865306913/
bm.ge: https://bm.ge/news/represiulma-da-antidasavlurma-kanonebma-riskis-qvesh-daayena-mediis-tavisufleba-kvleva