The Messenger #200 (1467) - Letter to the Editor

Friday, October 19, 2007, #200 (1467)

Letter to the Editor

The past few weeks have been, if nothing else, a textbook example of how not to run a government. Statements and allegations of all types have been made by both sides without any evidence or proof. Proof apparently has no place in Georgia’s system of “justice” or politics.

A former Defense Minister is arrested two days after forming a new political party and accused of very serious crimes. The problem is the government knew he had committed those alleged crimes months, perhaps years ago and did not arrest him. Only when he became a possible threat to the current government did he become “guilty” of those crimes and a possible flight risk.

In another incident the former Defense Minister makes very serious statements (without proof) against the President of Georgia live on Imedi Television. He is challenged about his comments by the show hostess on many occasions. The government response is to have the man arrested for serious crimes of his own. But miracle of all miracles, the former Defense Minister is let go after recanting all his previous statements and placing blame on Badri Patarkatsishvili, founder of Imedi Television and Radio. Of course, no proof is offered in the accusations against Badri. Proof is not needed, only black PR! That seems sufficient.

The problem is that it isn’t sufficient. Perhaps most media outlets in Georgia will buy into this black pr campaign against Badri. It would be very easy to do. It is too easy just to reprint, rephrase or rewrite the government line—not only against Badri but in regards to all things government related. Imedi does not do this and will not do this type of “journalism”.

At Imedi Television and Radio, we believe that people have the right to look at a news programs and decide how that program content does or does not affect them. We also believe that confiscating news cameras, recorders, mobile phones and roughing up reporters and videographers—as happened several weeks ago to two of our news department employees while covering the arrest of the former Defense Minister—smacks of censorship and a complete lack of the meaning of the words “free press.”

What does the government have to fear? Why won’t the leaders of the government, including the President, come to Imedi Television and Radio to do interviews? As Winston Churchill once said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” You have nothing to fear at Imedi. Both sides of the story or issue will be presented. Eureka! That must be it. The government doesn’t want both sides of the story told—only their side. Now it becomes all too clear.

As the representative of New Corporation in Georgia, I am coming to the end of my first year in the position of C.E.O. of News Media Caucasus. In this past year, it has been an honor to work with the men and women of Imedi Television and Radio and especially with the founder of these stations, Badri Patarkatsishvili. By any measure—via AGB Nielsen ratings, independent research done on our stations by outside organizations or by our own research, Imedi Television and Radio are by far the dominate media in Georgia—something that can be proven! But most important to us is that in less than five years on the air, these stations have earned the trust of most Georgians. Being in a dominate position in news and other programming means nothing if you don’t have trust—something that, as far as I can tell, the government has little, if any of in today’s political environment.

In a speech on October 15 in Telavi, the President spoke of the “support” of the Georgian people. From where I sit, he neither enjoys the support or trust of the Georgian people. If he thinks he has the support and trust of Georgians, perhaps he should not travel as much and look out his window at the 10,000 plus people who gathered in front of the Parliament Building several weeks ago on less than a 24 hour notice!

Trust and support is not given. They are earned!