Caucasus: Oct ‘08

IWPR organised a training workshop in Georgia's second largest city of Kutaisi, October 17-18, to give reporters guidance on how to work safely during a war.



The event – which was attended by local print, radio and television journalists – is part of the War and Media training programme which began in September, and is a series of workshops designed with guidance from Georgia’s national defence academy.



Captain Lasha Chkheidze from the academy said it became apparent during war between Georgia and Russia, which broke out in August over the breakaway region of South Ossetia, that journalists did not know how to conduct themselves in a conflict situation.



“During the August war, journalists caused much trouble, both to us and themselves,” he said. “Casualties among them were the result [of how to operate in a war zone].”



Captain Giorgi Chelidze, also from the academy, pointed out that in Georgia journalists are not prepared for working on the front line.



“Students of the defence academy study relations with media as part of their curriculum. It will be good for journalists to learn how to obtain information in emergency situations,” he said.



In Kutaisi, IWPR trainers presented to participants a guide to reporting in war situations, compiled in accordance with Georgia’s laws.



Those journalists who attended the course criticised the work of national broadcasters during the conflict.



“During the war, the media turned into a very effective instrument of propaganda,” said Irma Choladze of the television company Rioni. “And the foremost thing journalists should do is to fulfill their primary function, which means providing comprehensive and reliable information.



“In our case, the state and media united against a common enemy.”



Irakli Machitadze, founder of the radio company Dzveli Kalaki, agreed that the media disseminated misinformation during the conflict.



“As an ordinary citizen, I was lied to all throughout the war. I knew nothing about the real number of casualties, extents of destruction or other war-inflicted losses,” said Machitadze.



As the workshop drew to its end, the journalists were given copies of the security guide, which described in detail what a journalist should or shouldn’t do to stay safe when reporting on a war.



Tea Zibzibadze of the Akhali Gazeti newspaper said the workshop was extremely useful.



“The Georgia-Russia war left four journalists dead and six more wounded. The survivors say they did not know that it was dangerous to enter Tskhinvali,” said Zibzibadze.



“Had they known the security rules, the tragedy would have been avoided. I’ve attended a lot of workshops, but none of them has been nearly as interesting as this one.”