The Communications Commission has published the second media monitoring report for the 2021 Georgian municipal elections, covering the period between 2 September and 2 October. Qualitative monitoring of the following national broadcasters was carried out during the reporting period: Georgian Public Broadcaster, Adjara TV of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Imedi TV, Rustavi 2, Mtavari TV and TV Pirveli. Monitoring was carried out daily, during the prime-time period between 19:00 and 00:00. In case of political shows, monitoring was carried out throughout the day. Quantitative monitoring applied to approximately 50 broadcasters. The six general broadcasters that were subject to qualitative monitoring were assessed by the following broadcasting standards: balance, accuracy, relevance, omission of important information, hate speech, disinformation, discrimination and manipulation of visual/audio materials. 

Media monitoring revealed that within the pluralistic and diverse pre-election media environment, some sections of the media are still polarised, while others are spreading disinformation and attempting to manipulate and deceive their viewers. The use of hate speech remains a significant issue in the case of certain broadcasters.

More specifically, the results of media monitoring of the 6 national broadcasters are as follows:

The Georgian Public Broadcaster covered the news in an unbiased manner. No significant information was omitted. Journalists refrained from using hate speech and openly stating their political views. The channel provided a neutral and balanced coverage of each qualified electoral subject’s pre-election activities, afforded airtime to unqualified subjects and provided live coverage of the presentations, briefings and other pre-election activities of various political subjects. The channel aired a special programme section informing the viewers about the local problems in various cities and municipalities, and the programme priorities of different mayoral candidates. The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 22.7% (positive – 10%, negative – 12%), United National Movement – 18.3% (positive – 16%, negative – 5%), Government of Georgia – 16.7% (positive – 5%, negative – 1%), all other subjects – less than 5%. 

Adjara TV covered the election campaign in an impartial, non-discriminatory and calm manner, and in accordance with the appropriate legislative norms and journalistic standards. Presenters and journalists maintained objectivity towards all political parties and candidates participating in the elections. They refrained from displaying political sympathies and using discriminatory language. The reports were balanced, and all participants were given the opportunity to express their opinions. Pre-election reporting mainly served to keep the electorate informed. The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 26.2% (positive – 8%, negative – 31%), United National Movement – 19.6% (positive – 12%, negative – 31%), Gakharia for Georgia – 14.1% (positive – 47%, negative – 15%), all other subjects – less than 10%. 

Imedi TV displayed a positive attitude towards the ruling Georgian Dream party and the Government of Georgia, and a sharply negative attitude towards the United National Movement. These attitudes were evident both in the tone used by the presenters and journalists, and the content of the reports. Activities of the mayoral candidates of Georgian Dream received broad exposure and live coverage. With rare exceptions, no other electoral subject’s activities were covered with the same frequency and intensity by Teleimedi. The broadcaster displayed an increasingly negative attitude towards Giorgi Gakharia and his For Georgia party. There were attempts to manipulate the viewers. Generally, the reports on news programmes and political shows were presented in a biased manner. The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 46.4% (positive – 47%, negative – 4%), Government of Georgia – 10.4% (positive – 37%, negative – 1%), United National Movement – 18.9% (positive – 2%, negative – 68%), all other subjects – less than 10%. 

During the reporting period, Rustavi-2 provided viewers with factual and verified information. Monitoring did not identify any instances of manipulation or attempts to spread misinformation. The news reports usually presented different viewpoints surrounding the issues. However, the quantitative balance was often skewed in favour of the governing party. Pre-election activities of Georgian Dream candidates received considerably lengthier coverage than the activities of opposition candidates. Furthermore, the broadcaster tended to cover the activities of Georgian Dream candidates and government activities together in the same reports, making it difficult for viewers to separate the two. The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 43.6% (positive – 41%, negative – 11%), United National Movement – 15.7% (positive – 9%, negative – 33%), Government of Georgia – 15.1% (positive – 50%, negative – 1%), all other subjects – less than 10%. 

TV Pirveli maintained a decidedly negative attitude towards Georgian Dream and the government during the reporting period. The channel mostly played a partisan role instead of acting as an impartial and objective news source. The main news programme presented the activities of electoral subjects in a fragmented manner, which may have prevented the viewers from making an informed choice. There were instances of news presenters making accusations against the ruling party and presenting presumptions as facts, thereby potentially misleading the viewers. Moreover, reporters often concluded their stories by offering their own negative assessments and predictions against the governing party. Presenters used irony and were openly hostile towards the government and the Georgian Dream. The main news show and other programmes of TV Pirveli were biased towards the opposition. The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 42.4% (positive – 1%, negative – 62%), United National Movement – 16.3% (positive – 2%, negative – 13%), Government of Georgia – 14.1% (positive – 0%, negative – 50%), all other subjects – less than 10%. 

The use of hate speech on air remains a significant problem for Mtavari TV. Presenters of political shows openly confronted the ruling party and used hate speech and insults. The broadcaster displayed strong loyalty and bias towards the opposition, particularly United National Movement and its candidates. The reports lacked balance. Journalists and presenters openly sympathised with the opposition and encouraged viewers to vote for anyone except Georgian Dream in the elections. The channel frequently aired one-sided and biased reports. Unsubstantiated accusations were often heard against the government and Georgian Dream. Overall, the coverage was biased and saturated with insults. 

The time allotted to the monitoring subjects in news programmes was as follows: Georgian Dream – 33.6% (positive – 1%, negative – 71%), United National Movement – 26.4% (positive – 11%, negative – 2%), Government of Georgia – 8.6% (positive – 0%, negative – 76%), all other subjects – less than 10%. 

The monitors of the Communications Commission were trained by the media expert of the Council of Europe and Executive Director of the media monitoring organisation Memo 98, Rasto Kuzel.