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INTERNEWS GEORGIA: GEORGIAN MEDIA COVERAGES MAINLY FOCUS ON ARMENIANS, AND THE TONE IS OFTEN NEGATIVE
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 28 2011
Within the framework of the Heinrich Boll Foundation South Caucasus
Regional Office Project - Addressing Hate Speech in Georgia: A Litmus
Test for Human Rights and Social Tolerance, Internews Georgia is
conducting a monitoring of reporting on and usage of the hate speech
against ethnic, religious and sexual minorities in Georgian press.
On October 25 Internews Georgia published the first quarterly report
of the monitoring. This report represents the results of quantitative
and qualitative researches conducted during May-July 2011, Media.ge
reported.
8 national and 3 regional publications have been chosen for the
monitoring: Resonance, Alia and Kviris Kronika, Akhali Taoba, Versia,
Kviris Palitra, Asaval-Dasavali, 24 Saati, and Weekend, Prime-Time,
Batumelebi (Batumi), Samkhretis Karibche (Akhaltsike) and Akhali Gazeti
(Kutaisi).
During the monitoring period Asaval-Dasavali, Resonansi and Akhali
Taoba dedicated the largest space to coverage of ethnic, religious and
sexual minorities. According to the report, newspapers Asaval-Dasavali,
Versia and Alia Holding (newspapers Alia and Kviris Kronika) often
violate standards of journalistic ethics by publishing xenophobic
and homophobic statements.
The monitoring also demonstrated that among ethnic minorities, the
coverage was mainly focused on Armenians and the tone was often
negative. Regarding issues related to sexual orientation/gender
identity, incorrect use of terms by both journalists and respondents
and lack of awareness about the issue was noteworthy. In comparison
with ethnic and sexual minorities, religious minorities attract less
attention from the Georgian media, although Jehovah's witnesses
is the minority group in relation of which hate speech is most
frequently used.
Additionally, an important trend has been outlined that with the
exception of a few newspapers there are several media outlets that
provide society with balanced materials based on ethical standards.
Newspapers like 24 Saati, Resonance, Batumelebi, Akhali Taoba, Kviris
Palitra, Prime-Time and Samkhretis Karibche are paying less attention
to minority issues, however in case of coverage articles are always
balanced and with no statements containing hate speech.
Along with that, according to the report, monitoring revealed that
there is a lack of analytical articles in the Georgian printed media
regarding sexual, religious and ethnic minorities.
The results of the monitoring clearly demonstrate that homophobic
attitudes towards minorities are often manifested. "This indicates
that the problem of tolerance and acceptance of differences is still an
acute problem in Georgia," Internews Georgia's quarterly report said.
Panorama, Armenia
Oct 28 2011
Within the framework of the Heinrich Boll Foundation South Caucasus
Regional Office Project - Addressing Hate Speech in Georgia: A Litmus
Test for Human Rights and Social Tolerance, Internews Georgia is
conducting a monitoring of reporting on and usage of the hate speech
against ethnic, religious and sexual minorities in Georgian press.
On October 25 Internews Georgia published the first quarterly report
of the monitoring. This report represents the results of quantitative
and qualitative researches conducted during May-July 2011, Media.ge
reported.
8 national and 3 regional publications have been chosen for the
monitoring: Resonance, Alia and Kviris Kronika, Akhali Taoba, Versia,
Kviris Palitra, Asaval-Dasavali, 24 Saati, and Weekend, Prime-Time,
Batumelebi (Batumi), Samkhretis Karibche (Akhaltsike) and Akhali Gazeti
(Kutaisi).
During the monitoring period Asaval-Dasavali, Resonansi and Akhali
Taoba dedicated the largest space to coverage of ethnic, religious and
sexual minorities. According to the report, newspapers Asaval-Dasavali,
Versia and Alia Holding (newspapers Alia and Kviris Kronika) often
violate standards of journalistic ethics by publishing xenophobic
and homophobic statements.
The monitoring also demonstrated that among ethnic minorities, the
coverage was mainly focused on Armenians and the tone was often
negative. Regarding issues related to sexual orientation/gender
identity, incorrect use of terms by both journalists and respondents
and lack of awareness about the issue was noteworthy. In comparison
with ethnic and sexual minorities, religious minorities attract less
attention from the Georgian media, although Jehovah's witnesses
is the minority group in relation of which hate speech is most
frequently used.
Additionally, an important trend has been outlined that with the
exception of a few newspapers there are several media outlets that
provide society with balanced materials based on ethical standards.
Newspapers like 24 Saati, Resonance, Batumelebi, Akhali Taoba, Kviris
Palitra, Prime-Time and Samkhretis Karibche are paying less attention
to minority issues, however in case of coverage articles are always
balanced and with no statements containing hate speech.
Along with that, according to the report, monitoring revealed that
there is a lack of analytical articles in the Georgian printed media
regarding sexual, religious and ethnic minorities.
The results of the monitoring clearly demonstrate that homophobic
attitudes towards minorities are often manifested. "This indicates
that the problem of tolerance and acceptance of differences is still an
acute problem in Georgia," Internews Georgia's quarterly report said.