On 23 June 2022, representatives of Georgian media outlets and election administration exchanged views on improving media environment during electoral processes at the conference - ‘Media environment and elections’.

Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Natalia Voutova and the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Georgia, Giorgi Kalandarishvili, delivered opening remarks underlining importance of the role of media in electoral processes – necessity of promoting pluralism, diversity and informed choice of citizens.  

Representatives of major media outlets - TV channels, online and printed media - heads of editorial units, producers, and journalists from Georgian Public Broadcaster, Mtavari, TV Imedi, TV Palitra, TV Pirveli, Rustavi 2, Palitranews, Interpressnews, Euronews Georgia, On.ge, radios Palitra and Fortuna, Tabula and others discussed challenges related to media coverage of elections, lack of pluralism and polarisation, media safety, elections day and reporting, including election blackout, exit-polls, public opinion polls, analytical reporting, post-electoral coverage, tackling disinformation in the context of elections and etc.

The conference proved to be an effective dialogue platform for high-level election officials and journalists to discuss possible solutions and steps forward aimed at improving media environment and enhancing transparency and integrity of electoral processes.

The conference was organised within the framework of the Council of Europe Project ‘Supporting Transparency, Inclusiveness and Integrity of Electoral Practice and Process in Georgia’.