Modern.az continues its series of interviews with foreign journalists. In these interviews, we try to learn about their perceptions of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis, explore commonalities between the two countries, and exchange views on other issues.
Our interviewee this time is Vaso Kopanadze, a journalist from neighboring Georgia. He is also a political commentator and a reviewer for "Foreign Business in Georgia" magazine.
We present the interview with Vaso Kopanadze:
- How do you assess the current state of journalism in Georgia?
- The current state of journalism in Georgia can generally be assessed positively. Because, in principle, journalists - whether they support the government or not - do not face any serious problems in carrying out their activities. In this regard, it can be said that media pluralism fully exists in Georgia.
- What major changes have occurred in your country's media environment in recent years?
- Changes in Georgia's media environment are generally related to what is happening in society and state life. Thus, political polarization in the country and society is at a sufficiently high level, and this directly affects the media environment. On the one hand, there are media organizations that support the government and the ruling political force, and on the other hand, there is the press that sharply criticizes the existing political course. This situation is reflected in the activities of both the first and second groups of media representatives.
- How would you characterize the situation regarding media freedom in Georgia?
- The situation regarding media freedom in Georgia can be considered satisfactory. There is no serious threat to media freedom, and every mass media outlet has the opportunity to organize its activities in any direction it wishes. In this regard, there is currently no serious problem, and it is hoped that there will not be in the future.
- In your opinion, are the media in Georgia more under political influence, or can they operate independently?
- Whether the media are under political influence or not mainly depends on their own choice. Some media organizations choose to fall under political influence, while others operate relatively independently, trying to maintain a balance between the government and the opposition. For this reason, any media being under political influence is more a matter of its own position and choice.
- How have social networks and digital media affected journalism in your country?
- The development of social networks and digital media has had a significant impact on journalism in Georgia. Today, anyone who blogs on social networks can call themselves a journalist. This is positive on the one hand, because everyone gets the opportunity to express their opinion. On the other hand, the quality of activity, professional training, and level of thought of such
