EU and UNDP to Monitor Media Leading up to 2018 Presidential Elections

The European Union (EU) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will begin another round of their pre-election media monitoring program today, in support of free, diverse and professional media in Georgia. Presidential elections will be held in October 2018.

The research program will examine major trends in election coverage during the 2018 presidential election period. Media monitoring will continue through the elections, covering thirty-seven TV, radio, print and online national media outlets.

The first reports from the monitoring program will be released in October, prior to election day. The final report will be released in November or December, depending on the exact election date, yet to be announced.

Three Georgian non-governmental civil society organizations will conduct the monitoring. Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics will monitor TV, Internews – Georgia will monitor radio, and Civic Development Institute (CDI) will monitor online and print media.

The EU/UNDP media monitoring program was launched in 2010 to promote media diversity and strengthen the watchdog function of Georgian civil society. The program has since contributed to media research during six major elections in Georgia in 2010 – 2017.

For media monitoring reports and more information on methodology, visit: www.mediamonitor.ge

The following outlets will be monitored by the EU/UNDP 2018 election media monitoring program:

By Samantha Guthrie

Photo: EU Neighbours