REQUESTED SPEAKER ON MEDIA ETHICS IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

UNCLAS TBILISI 002973 SIPDIS SIPDIS IIP/EUR FOR TANIA CHOMIAK-SALVI, IIP/S FOR LAWRENCE SCHWARTZ E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO GG SUBJECT: REQUESTED SPEAKER ON MEDIA ETHICS IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN REF: A) STATE 151480 ¶1. Summary: Embassy Tbilisi requests a rapid response speaker program for a program on journalistic ethics in covering elections. This program should last 7-9 days and take place in December 2007, before the January 5, 2008 snap Presidential elections. Post requests George Krimsky of the ICFJ, or a similar speaker. The audience will be working broadcast editors, producers and journalists. End Summary. ¶2. Program Description: On November 8, 2007 (in the wake of demonstrations) a snap Presidential election was announced for January 5, 2008. This is expected to be a closely contested election, in which the perceived bias of the media will be under close scrutiny from all sides. Currently Georgia is considering adopting a code of journalistic ethics. Embassy Tbilisi wants to bring an experienced and well-known journalist such as George Krimsky to Tbilisi and Batumi to teach television editors, producers, and journalists about the ethical requirements of election campaign reporting. Training sessions will be held in the newsrooms of all five nationally broadcast channels. The program would last 7-9 days. ¶3. Time Frame: December 2007, to be set according to the speaker's availability. ¶4. Program Purpose: Journalism in Georgia is still not fully developed and in recent months the issue of media bias has become increasingly important. This program is intended to educate journalists, and to give them an understanding of the ethical standards common in the Euro-Atlantic community. In addition to workshops in television newsrooms we will schedule lectures at the Georgian Institute of Public Administration's School of Journalism and at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. ¶5. Audience: Working Television journalists, especially including editors and producers. ¶6. Language Requirements: English, with translation into Georgian provided. Alternatively, Russian could be used. FSA funds will be used for interpretation. ¶7. Post Contact Information: APAO Stephen A. Guice: phone +995-32-277449, mobile +995-99-504392, fax +995-32-532319, email: Guicesa@state.gov Information Assistant Nana Kiknadze: phone +995-32-277208, mobile +995-99-540734, email Kiknadzen@state.gov ¶8. Funding source: FY 07/08 FSA speaker funds. TEFFT