National Broadcasters Deny Abusing Reputation of Hereti

“I remember what the report said – we said that the radio took money for advertisement time and had Ramaz Samkharadze’s commentary saying the same,” Courier producer GIorgi Laperashvili says. 

In relation to the given issue Mate Kirvalidze, head of Imedi TV information program told media.ge:  “We do not comment to broadcasted reports.  I wish success to Ramaz Samkharadze in lodging the appeal and wish all the best to Radio Hereti.” 

Radio Hereti Director Ramaz Samkharadze decided to appeal against Rustavi 2 and Imedi TV in the National Communications Commission after on January 6 the national broadcasters aired reports on “businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili financing media outlets.”  

The video-reports were preceded by a briefing of the Head of Clean Politics organization Zurab Japaridze who alleged that Bidzina Ivanishvili finances certain media outlets. 

Representatives of different media outlets said in the Courier and Chronika video-reports that Bidzina Ivanishvili has actually paid money to them, but only as a fee for advertisements that have been, or is being broadcasted.  Despite these clarifications the reports of national broadcasters still claimed Ivanishvili financing these media outlets.  According to Imedi, the given information came from an unofficial source from the businessman’s team.  Title of the analogous report of Rustavi 2 was – “Ivanishvili’s Media.” 

“During the reports by Rustavi 2 and Imedi there was the title – “Ivanishvili’s media” and phrases like:  “Bribed media,” were being repeated.  Imedi TV and Rustavi 2 will have to prove why they have described Hereti as a bribed media outlet, or Ivanishvili’s media,” founder and director of Radio Hereti Ramaz Samkharadze said.

Media expert Zviad Koridze clarifies that using the term “financing” was not correct in this case. 

“Financing is the term for the amount that TVs or radios receive from funder when advertisement revenues are not enough for covering expenses,” Koridze says. 

He believes Rustavi 2 and Imedi have abused the reputation of Radio Hereti and have violated journalistic ethics as reports spoke about incorrect and unconfirmed amounts. 

“When you describe receiving of fee for advertisement as if a broadcaster or a radio has bribed, it means abusing reputation.  Should we say chocolate company Barambo owns Rustavi 2 because it advertises Barambo?” Koridze said. 

Koridze believes the “management of the broadcasters will be smart enough to apologize on time.” 

In a conversation with media.ge, Nona Kandiashvili, representative of businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Press-Service denied financing of any media outlet or media organization by Ivanishvili, or his foundation.  She confirmed payment of fees for allocating advertisements at different media outlets.