Common Distribution Network

Georgian businessman-turned-politician Bidzina Ivanishvili is going to fund Free Press Support Organization. The overreaching goal of the organization will be to set up and develop new distribution network. The Free Press Support Organization was founded on December 13, 2011 by the Georgian Press Association. Since 2009 the publishers of Georgian newspapers such as Rezonansi, Kviris Palitra and Asaval-Dasavali have been the founders of the Georgian Press Association.

 The Organization has already announced the opening of the vacancies for the following positions: Executive Director, sellers, Regional Development, Office and PR Managers. Salaries vary from GEL 500 to 1,500. The information about vacancies was disseminated through press on December 19.

According to Lasha Tugushi, head of the Georgian Press Association the launch of the new organization was incited by the problems related to press kiosks. To implement the Tbilisi City Hall project 1,000 New Booths the supervision service has already removed the greater part of kiosks that has been repeatedly  protested by the representatives of the Press Association.

For today there is no kiosk left. Therefore we launched a non-commercial organization to render assistance to the newspaper distribution companies,” said Lasha Tugushi reporting to Media.ge.

Bidzina Ivanishvili, following repeated protest rallies met with the press representatives and pledged to help. Bidzina Ivanishvili Foundation, said Lasha Tugushi, will be one of the financial sources supporting the Free Press Support Organization.

“Newspapers themselves will be lending a hand too as much as they can. The funds will be utilized to help press distribution,” said Lasha Tugushi.

Granting an interview to Media.ge Nona Kandiashvili, head of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s press service did not deny the information furnished.

“If Lasha Tugushi said so it means he [Bidzina Ivanishvili] will be funding,” Kandiashvili said.

The announcement about vacancies also indicates that the main source of funding for the organization will be grants and private contributions. The Free Press Support Organization also calls upon citizens and organizations willing to financially contribute to the organization to make transfers through Cartu and TBC Banks.