The Media Academy of the Communications Commission has held a two-day training for journalists. The interactive training titled “Psychology of Perception and Communication” was led by psychologist Rusudan Gorgiladze, who worked as a fellow at Harvard University Weatherhead Center for International Affairs for several years and was also the Regional Director for Eastern Europe at the Harvard Alumni Association. She took part in the negotiations concerning Georgia’s accession to the Council of Europe and was a member of the official delegation for EU-Georgia Partnership and Cooperation. During the period of 2000-2004, Rusudan Gorgiladze was the First Deputy Minister of Education.

A significant part of the training was dedicated to learning the basics of the perception process and understanding the ways and means by which people receive information, experience reality and the filters which they encounter during this process. Participants discussed news delivery methods based on the examples of European public broadcasters. The training also focused on the use of fake news and different forms of propaganda in democratic societies and dictatorships.

The Media Academy continues to work on developing media literacy and enhancing the qualifications of journalists in Georgia. To this end, it is planning to implement new learning programs, seminars, and masterclasses both for fledgling and active media managers, producers, and journalists.

Journalists who took part in the training received the relevant certificates from the Communications Commission.