This page has been created as (1) a record of that activity, (2) a source of links to general and (3) media information about Georgia, and (4) an ongoing report regarding the progress of proposed media legislation in that country.
Neither this page, nor any of its contents and links, represent anything other than my own individual views. It is, most especially, in no sense representative of the positions of ABA/CEELI, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission or other federal agency, the University of Iowa (or any other institution or organization with which I may be affiliated). Where I believe that positions advanced by me represent a minority viewpoint in America it has been my intention to indicate that.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two professional ABA/CEELI staff persons who were the most directly involved in this project and who went out of their way to make the experience possible, productive, and pleasant (along with their "MailTo" e-mail addresses).
Given the number of search engines and general reference starting points as now exist on the Web, and as many changes as are made daily in the sites that are available, it probably makes most sense to start from scratch with your own favorite techniques. You would probably quickly discover the sites mentioned here on your own. In fact, you may already have "bookmarked" your own favorite general sources on the Web for research about Georgia.
But when one is just starting with a new subject suggestions are sometimes welcome. So, here are mine.
There are three U.S. sources that provide a useful, general -- and sometimes relatively thorough -- overview of the basics about Georgia.
The CIA provides map of Georgia
The flag of Georgia can be seen on a page provided by the Parliament, and also on one from the CIA.
An English language version of the Georgian Constitution is also available from the Parliament's pages.
The Georgian language is both beautiful and unique; unrelated to any of the world's major language groups, it has its own alphabet, is taught in few universities' foreign language departments, and is the basis for few phrasebooks. One I have found useful is: Nicholas Awde and Thea Khitarishvili, Georgian-English English-Georgian Dictionary and Phrasebook (New York: Hippocrene Books [171 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016], 1997), US$11.95. Although it is readily available in bookstores in Iowa City, Iowa, such as Prairie Lights Books, if you have trouble finding it, the book can be ordered, online, from Amazon Books -- at a 20% discount.
From these few sites alone you will soon find your way to hundreds of
documents and other sites. From there -- if you are lucky -- you
may someday find your way to Georgia itself.
"The American Bar Association Central and East European Law Inititative Concept Paper on Media Law," November 20, 1996, is a lengthy and thoughtful summary of U.S. media principles, supported with some 235 footnotes, that was prepared for use in Georgia.
The Post-Soviet Media Law and Policy Newsletter is devoted to news reports from other countries, and policy discussions, that are directly relevant to the media policy issues in Georgia. It is a project of Monroe Price, editor, and associate editors Peter Krug and Andrei Richter, and is also available through another address.
A Seminar on Proposed Broadcast Legislation, organized by the American Bar Association, Internews, National Democratic Institute and Open Society Georgia, was held on February 27, 1998. Nicholas Johnson's remarks on that occasion, "A Hasty History of U.S. Broadcast Regulation" are available from this Web site, as is a "List of Participants" in that seminar.
Internews, one of the major participants in this project, has a number of very useful Web sites: Internews USA, Internews Russia, and Internews Caucasus among them. For example, the paper "Analysis of the Georgian Draft Laws 'on Mass Media and Journalists Professional Activity,' 'on Mass Media,' and 'on Freedom of Information'" is available from the Russian site.
The Open Society Georgia Foundation is a George Soros organization that was also a major participant in this project. (The Soros Foundation also maintains a Web page for its Open Society Georgia Foundation.)
There is a vast body of literature dealing with alternative systems of broadcasting. A current report, although coming out of the challenges facing the U.S. at the moment regarding digital broadcasting, deals with many issues similar to those confronting Georgia at this time. One of the best public policy "think tanks" for media and communications policy in the U.S. -- in terms of independence, quality and quantity -- is the Communications and Society Program of The Aspen Institute. One of its recent conferences (January 25-27, 1998, which I attended, see "Random Talking Points") involved the Working Group on Digital Broadcasting and the Public Interest. Although the final report of that conference is not yet available, the staff's preliminary report has been posted to the Web. See Toward a New Approach to Public Interest Regulation of Digital Broadcasting (A Preliminary Report of The Aspen Institute Working Group on Digital Broadcasting and the Public Interest, prepared by Angela Campbell, Georgetown University Law Center, February 25, 1998, Communications and Society Program, Charles M. Firestone, Director).
Nicholas Johnson, "Georgia's Media Future: A Personal View of Options and Opportunities," is a personal statement of mine, for the benefit of the Parliament of Georgia and any other interested persons (unrelated to the ABA/CEELI project that involves analysis of provisions of individual proposed legislative drafts). It was written March 12, 1998.
Nicholas Johnson, "An Autonomous Media," although originally written for prior broadcast policy projects, is equally applicable and and (hopefully) useful here as an introductory primer to the U.S. concepts of "free speech," broadcast regulation, and the independence of U.S. media from government. There is no Georgian language version, but a Russian language translation was distributed by ABA/CEELI at some of the Tbilisi meetings. It was originally written in 1994.
"Georgia 'On Freedom of Information'" is one of a number of proposed drafts of media-related legislation for the Parliament of Georgia. This draft deals with what, in the U.S., would be called a "Freedom of Information Act" as well as provisions regarding defamation and related matters. It was translated from Georgian to English by the National Democratic Institute on February 24, 1998. This draft is also available from the Internews Russian site.
"Comments of Nicholas Johnson on the Freedom of Information Proposed Law of the Parliament of Georgia," was first presented March 17, 1998, and is to be translated into Georgian by ABA/CEELI.
"Comments of Nicholas Johnson on The Law of Georgia on Broadcasting, Proposed Law of the Parliament of Georgia" was first presented on March 23, 1998, and is to be translated into Georgian by ABA/CEELI. (The law itself will be, but is not yet, available from this site.)
"Comments of Nicholas Johnson on The Proposed Creation of a Public Broadcasting System for Georgia" was first presented on March 24, 1998, and is to be translated into Georgian by ABA/CEELI.
Nicholas Johnson and Virtual Someone, "Anticipating the Issues in Georgia's Broadcast Legislation," March 30, 1998 (an e-mailed question and answer exchange between a "Virtual Someone" (who wishes to remain anonymous), in Tbilisi, Georgia, and Nicholas Johnson, in Iowa City, Iowa).
"United States Code, Title 47" is offered here as a resource for those Georgians, or others, who would like to know how the United States has dealt with some of the legal issues now confronting Georgia. All U.S. federal statutory law is contained in a single set of volumes called the "U.S. Code." The laws are organized by subject into numbered "titles." Title 47 of the U.S. Code ("Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs") contains most of the law related to radio and television stations, cable television systems, telephone companies, communications satellites -- and the Federal Communications Commission itself.
The United States Federal Communications Commission also maintains a Web page that is worth exploring by anyone interested in U.S. media policy.
Note: Additional drafts of legislation, as well as former and future evaluations and commentary about those drafts, will be added to this site from time to time as they are made available to me. -- N.J.
1. The Tbilisi, Georgia, ABA/CEELI staff. From left to right: Irina Lortkipanidze, Maia Chochua, Barbara Swann (ABA/CEELI Liaison), Tamuna Chergoleishuili. This is the group that planned the events, sent out the invitations, made all local arrangements, prepared the materials, served as interpreters, provided transportation -- in short, made it all happen.
2. Group meeting with Ramaz Sakvarelidze, M.P., Chair, Media Subcommittee of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture. From left to right: Douglas Campbell, Internews; Johan Hamels, National Democratic Institute; Chairman Sakvarelidze; Nicholas Johnson; Barbara Swann; Nana D. Gobeshia, Glasnost Defense Foundation; Tamuna Chergoleishuili.
3. Joint workshop with Mikheil Saakashvili, M.P. (and see Saakashvili bio), Chair, Committee on Constitutional, Legal Affairs and the Rule of Law, and Chairman Ramaz Sakvarelidze, M.P., Sunday, March 1, 1998. From left to right: Barbara Swann (back to camera); Nicholas Johnson; Chairman Saakashvili; Giga Bokeria, journalist; Chairman Sakvarelidze; George Papuashvili, Chief Advisor to Chairman Saakashvili.
4. Soldiers and tank guarding State Television -- outside the administrative building and facilities.
5. Meeting with Archil Gogelia, Chair, Georgia TV & Radio Corporation ("state television"). From left to right: Nicholas Johnson, Chairman Gogelia, Nana D. Gobeshia.
6. Seminar on Proposed Broadcast Legislation, Republican Hearing Room, Parliament of Georgia, Friday, February 27, 1998, organized by ABA/CEELI, Internews, National Democratic Institute, and Open Society Georgia Foundation. From left to right: Nicholas Johnson; Johan Hamels; Professor Gabor Halmai, Director, Hungarian Human Rights Information and Documentation Centre. The full text of Nicholas Johnson's remarks on that occasion is available.
7. Georgia Young Lawyers Association, Seminar, Monday, March 2, 1998. Nicholas Johnson standing behind a portion of the audience.
8. Georgia Young Lawyers Association Library. From left to right: Nicholas Johnson; Irma Aladashvili, Librarian.
9. TV7 Studio. Nicholas Johnson being interviewed by TV7's anchorperson, Lynn Grantz, for the "Weekly News in English" program, March 1, 1998, 8:00 p.m. (rebroadcast March 2, 9:00 a.m.). The full text of Nicholas Johnson's remarks on that occasion is available.
10. Alexei and Manana Skhirtladze, proprietors of "Manana's Bed and Breakfast," where I stayed amidst Georgian hospitality that often included Manana and sister Irma's wonderful cooking for dinner as well as breakfast. Address: 46, Arsena Odzelashvili Str., Tbilisi, 380008 Georgia; voice phone: (995-32) 93-63-97. I can personally recommend this place -- as can a former visitor who has created a Web page for Manana: http://www.xs4all.nl/~leslie/manana.html Check it out.
11. Manana Skhirtladze with her daughter, Anna -- ten years old, delightful, and a good student who, like her mother, can converse with you in English, Russian, German or Georgian.
12. Nana Doliashvili, President, Georgian Interpretations Unlimited, was our tour guide. She is fluent in English, Russian, Spanish and Italian as well as Georgian. Incredibly well informed, she kept our attention through a delightful half-day introduction to the history, culture and architecture of Georgia; someone else I'm happy to recommend. Tours can be arranged through (995-32) 95-32-06.
13. Joke a la Tbilisi is the product of Hamlet Gegia, Chair, The Georgian Independent Trade Union for Journalists and Media Workers, and First Deputy Chair, The Federation of Journalists of Georgia. He has in his office an upscale computer lab, complete with Internet/Web access, digital camera, and other equipment. He took a digital picture of me in front of one of his computers -- but then had a little fun with it. Here is a copy of the "before" and "after" he subsequently presented me.
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