Concluding Public Discussion

April 15, 2024 | 12:00h (GMT +4) | 10:00h (CET) Tbilisi Marriott/Hybrid

AGENDA

The emerging polarization has changed the media landscape and the political power relationships in Georgia and Visegrad countries like Czechia, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. Nowadays, not only domestic but also foreign political issues appear as polarizing factors, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In such a polarized environment, it became particularly challenging for the voters to make an informed decision at the elections. Therefore, important is to build the public discussion around the following questions:

To what extent do the domestic and external factors increase the polarization level according to the perceptions of the media experts and journalists from Georgia and V4 states?
What is the interrelation between political and media polarization in Georgia and V4 states?

What are the effective instruments for mitigating media polarization? How can media play a positive role in voters’s informed decision-making?

The discussion took place on the 15th of April, at 12:00h (Tbilisi time, GMT+4), at the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel. The event was organized under the framework of the project “Supporting Decrease of Media Polarization in Georgia and V4 States.” At the concluding discussion researchers from Georgia, Slovakia, Poland, Czechia, and Hungary presented the findings of the joint report about media polarization in Georgia and V4 states. The event was held in English language in a hybrid format. The audience from Georgia had an opportunity to attend the event on place, while the interested audience from the V4 states was able to join the discussion online.

The project is co-financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. And also by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.