大象传媒

In over a decade of being editor-in-chief of Netgazeti.ge, an online Georgian- and Russian-language news portal based in Tbilisi, Nestan Tsetskhladze has overseen coverage of conflict and political turmoil 鈥� and her work only seems to be growing more difficult.

Georgia鈥檚 30 years of independence have included four years of civil war, a 鈥楻ose Revolution鈥�, accusations of presidential corruption, and conflict with Russia including the 2008 Russo-Georgian war over the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The country鈥檚 relationship with Russia remains tense, and most of the country鈥檚 media reflect the turmoil: funded by wealthy and competing factions, strongly polarised and flooded with misinformation.

Amid the turmoil, Batumelebi 鈥� then a regional newspaper based in the Black Sea port city of Batumi 鈥� had earned a reputation for independent reporting, and in 2010, its online Tbilisi-based sister organisation, netgazeti.ge, was born. The news organisation still maintains both brands, with offices in Batumi and Tbilisi, and its staff pride themselves on independent, impartial journalism.

'We wanted to give our audiences an independent media outlet'

鈥淭he reason we started is that there was not enough independent media outlets in Georgia. We wanted to give our audiences an independent media outlet,鈥� Nestan reflects now. International donors were essential to help them launch; their following grew quickly, along with their reputation for independence.

A decade on, the challenges are many - and not least among them are threats to her staff鈥檚 security.

Last summer, a Georgian journalist was found dead at his home a week after being beaten in a Pride march in Tbilisi. Alexander Lashakarava was filming for an independent TV station when he was set upon by a violent mob of anti LGBTQI+ protesters, who fractured his facial bones. He was one of more than 50 journalists harassed and beaten, with their equipment damaged. His cause of death has never been ascertained, but it led to protests in front of Parliament and the ruling party鈥檚 offices.

Targets for violence

Netgazeti鈥檚 journalists have also been targets for violence 鈥� both around the Pride march, and in the days and weeks afterward. 鈥淭he situation has become very hard,鈥� Nestan said. 鈥淛ournalism has become a dangerous profession. We have received numerous threats on social networks from anonymous users.

鈥淚n 20 years of working in journalism鈥� I don鈥檛 remember such kind of events.鈥�

Trying to remain an independent, impartial source of news has earned Netgazeti a declaration by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that they are purveyors of 鈥榤isinformation鈥�. 鈥淥n one hand, this is a compliment that we are working well,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut on the other hand, this is a challenge and can be dangerous, because of threats from pro-Russian trolls.鈥� Cyber-security is a constant challenge, and consumes much time and resource.

Struggle for funding

However, the most pressing issue for Netgazeti and Batumelebi may be funding. Georgia is an upper-middle income country, but with enormous gaps between richest and poorest. 大象传媒 Media Action research has found that its readers say they would, in theory, be willing to subscribe to the website if it meant it could continue. But in reality, few Georgians do subscribe to other media, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime. Advertising revenue is not enough even in good times; it has dwindled during the COVID-19 pandemic, and often fluctuates according to political loyalties and what is in the news that day.

Privately backed broadcast media, meanwhile, are able to offer reporters and editors many times the salary that they can earn at Netgazeti.

鈥淭his is not a fair market. We are going to exist because we have very enthusiastic and idealistic editors and journalists who appreciate their profession, and for whom editorial independence and freedom of expression have great value,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut even the most enthusiastic editors and journalists will find it hard to continue without even a small salary to live on.鈥�

Batumelebi is now an online-only publication, as a result of their financial struggles. Donor funding continues to be essential to their survival.

Trying to become sustainable

大象传媒 Media Action has worked with Netgazeti and Batumelebi for two years, providing training on newsroom management, digital storytelling, editorial standards and reporting skills, and social media strategy, as well as a grant to launch their Russian-language services. They have also received strategic support and training to develop more effective business models, including improving their advertising streams and use of crowdfunding.

鈥淲e have tried for a long time to become sustainable as a media organisation in Georgia,鈥� Nestan said.

鈥淎t the time we started, we expected in 10 years everything would have changed. Unfortunately the situation is still the same 鈥� media is still very polarised 鈥� And also because of the internet business models, there are only a few independent and reliable news sites, and we don鈥檛 have enough human resources or financial support. We have no opportunity to reach a wide audience and cover everything that we want to cover.鈥�

Yet, despite the many international donors invested in Georgia, she said, few turn their attention to support for independent media 鈥� despite their essential role in improved governance and safeguarding space for civil society.

鈥淚t鈥檚 also donors鈥� obligation to support independent media in countries like Georgia, a small country where democracy is very vulnerable, and the media environment is not free.鈥�

大象传媒 Media Action's Support to Independent Media in the Eastern Partnership countries project is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.