Media too Suffers Hardship in Javakheti

Seeing old canyons and bare trees being replaced by mountain steppes and rocks emerged from the ground one can easily recognize Javakheti.

75% of the population is made up of ethnic Armenians whose absolute majority cannot speak Georgian.

Akhalkalaki unpaved street leads to old buildings one of them rooming Ilia Chavchavadze International University and Armenian-language TV company ATV-12.

According to the TV founder Vardan Ktoyan they purchased technical equipment few years ago owing to the grant by Internews Georgia. Two journalist and two cameramen are employed at the TV company.

ATV-12 offers its audience three programmes such as daily new outlets, talks on literature and the one on religion-related issues. Currently the journalists are also working on a documentary about a local patron of art. In addition the TV company translates the news outlet by the GPB First Channel into the Armenian language to provide the locals with news.

Journalists work under hard conditions. The building, with the grass growing on its roof, is rented. Due to the inability to pay monthly fee the TV company enjoys no Internet connection accessible to almost every family in Akhalkalaki. But the lack of information and the relations with the local authorities remains as the essential problem. "Gamgebeli (local governor) and the members of his apparatus refuse to grant interviews, we have no access to the decisions by the government," said journalist Armen Minosyan. The latter cannot recollect any fact of pressure by the authorities.

The television is self-funded. The main source of income is the creeping line and obituaries.

Another TV company Javakhki broadcasts through a small booth located at the road. Unlike ATV-12 Javakhki provides its audience with announcements and obituaries. Six people are employed at the television. The Javakhki owner censors its competitor TV channel for unfairness. Due to the lack of funds the television is unable to provide its audience with programmes and there is no donor.

"Even though the population has access to Georgian TV channels through satellite antennas they still lack popularity. The population is Armenian and the absolute majority cannot speak Georgian, therefore TV audience obtains news from Russian and Armenian outlets," Radio Liberty journalist Maya Ivelashvili reported.

The situation is rather hard in regard to press distribution. "Who reads newspapers here?! It's Javakheti, my dear," an old man, hardly speaking Russian, reported. Wandering around the town at around 16:00 hrs in search for newsagent's couldn't find even a single counter selling press.

Parvana, the only TV company in Ninotsminda was founded in 1999 by Konstantin Vartanyan. Currently the television is well equipped and has got a studio and a diverse TV programming. The TV staff is manned with 21 people.

A one-hour news outlet is being aired on a daily basis. The broadcasting is being conducted in the Armenian language and the broadcasting area covers Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki. The TV company survives trough grants and advertising. According to Konstantin Vartanyan the main customers are mobile operators. And the income from announcements and obituaries make up 20% of the revenue.

Parvana TV cooperates with the Open Society Georgia Foundation and produces 12 documentaries within the grant. "The interest of the society is keen and the authorities are pleased to collaborate with us since Parvana is the only TV company broadcasting in Ninotsminda," journalist Ruzana Mkrtchyan affirms.

The majority of the population in Ninotsminda has got access to Russian and Armenian news through satellite antennas.

The only radio Nori quit broadcasting in April 2009. The Georgian National Communications Commission (GNC) denied the radio to grant the license for community broadcasting. Community Radio in Ninotsminda was the project run by Studio Re. Nori used to broadcast two hours per day through the loudspeakers installed in the city center. The radio programming was mainly filled with music and 5-minute news outlets. But twice per week a radio magazine was being produced covering local and international news. Mamuka Kuparadze, head of Studio Re cannot hide his discontent with the decision by GNCC; he considers the denial to the license as an artificial barrier. "We are not going to put up with it. We have got some plans and intend to bring this undertaking to the end," Kuparadze said.

The newspaper Samkhretis Karibche is being published in the region in the Armenian and Georgian languages. The Armenian-language editorial office of the newspaper is located in Akhalkalaki. The newspaper circulation is 1,000 and costs GEL 0,5. "Since there is no single counter to distribute press we disseminate the edition through subscribers," Lela Inasaridze, Editor of the Samkhretis Karibche said.

Lela Mikadze-Petrosyan, 40, sells small things at the Ninotsminda market. She always reads Georgian newspapers and magazines late in the evening. "My family members mainly watch Armenian channels, I am the only one speaking Georgian and my relatives send me newspapers from Akhaltsikhe," said Lali showing me the Sarke (mirror) magazine dating back to late December 2009. But the problem is of minor concern in Ninotsminda. Social hardship and severe climate is the main care of the locals.