'I discovered new skills in myself when I was a moderator in a discussion programme'

“The main challenges facing Georgian media are the lack of professionalism and freedom. Many journalists are not motivated to dig for the truth. The reasons are lack of professionalism and the fact that getting a job in the media is very easy if one has good contacts. That’s why there is self-censorship in the media. I think that if journalists were more motivated and enthusiastic in exploring the truth, they would be able to improve the current situation in the media."

Tamar is a Georgian journalist working for the Georgia Today newspaper. She has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in journalism and has worked for various media organisations. "

Television is biased, but print media and radio enjoy more freedom of speech. There is no countrywide free broadcast TV. There are problems on both sides of the media: on the side of journalists and on the side of government policy. The media is not absolutely free in my country, but being a journalist is not a threat to your life, either."

"During my three months training at RNTC, I had the possibility to experience different roles and positions in the media, which is very important and useful. I discovered new skills in myself when I was a moderator in a discussion programme. Georgia really lacks discussion formats in its programmes and I think that if I’m able to introduce them it will benefit our broadcast media as well. The RNTC training about good governance showed me the way to do broadcast journalism through internet. As many people in my country go online, internet media might become an alternative to biased television broadcasts.”

Tamar participated in the international course “Broadcast Journalism” at RNTC in 2010.