Qualifications for Chairperson and Members of GPB’s Board of Trustees

The long and draw out about the staffing of the Board of Trustees for Georgian Public Broadcasting has finally ended with the short list of 27 candidates for potential  membership on the  Board of Trustees, which has recently been submitted to the Parliament for its final consideration.

The board is to consist of both representatives of the government and the opposition. However, still the staffing of the chairperson of the board is yet to be decided. This list should be soon affirmed by the Georgian Parliament. The Human Rights Center decided to find out what kind of Board and Trustees and the kind of Public TV that would be most suited to the needs of larger Georgian society.

All respondents had one common theme in their perceptions: Georgian Public Broadcasting does not serve the public interest. Some of those that have considered this problem say that it is not characteristic to this particular TV Station and instead it is something that is common to all Georgian TV Companies. Actor Gia Burjanadze said that currently the level of the Public Broadcasting is too low and it better described as a so-called pocket TV Station for governmental interests.

Rusudan Bolkvadze: “Media represents a separate reality and actively demonstrates it to the population. If they would consider the situation deeply, people face different kinds of problems. I think it is not necessary to understand everything in an exact manner. GPB should always feel the pulse of the people.”

Actress Guranda Gabunia has not watched public TV for quite a long time. She thinks that the vast majority Georgian does not watch this channel since it is not interesting for them. 

The appeal that was recently made to the Georgian President and the chairperson of the Georgian Parliament represents the attitude of the Council for National Minorities within the Public Defender’s office when it comes to Georgian Public Broadcasting. Although the “GPB has already taken some measures,” “it is not enough to inform the society about national minorities living in Georgia.” Thus, they decided to promote their candidate for the membership of the Board of Governors. They are: Gari August, Mikheil Aidinov, Zaur Khalilov, Tengiz Gagloev, Lali Moroshkina and Marina Solomonishvili.

Although culture celebrities do not speak about their candidates they each have their own favored choice.

Film-Director Davit Doiashvili: “The chairperson of the Board of Trustees should be a person who is very close to the activities of the television. For example, Kakha Bekauri, Levan Kighuashvili, Dato Gersamia; I mean those who are real professionals.

Rusudan Bolkvadze thinks that the members of the board should represent all professions; they should be educated and highly literate people. “The chairperson should be active and pragmatic. Generally, it is difficult to select a person who satisfies all such demands, especially under current circumstances.  I would have supported journalist Ia Antadze as to a suitable choice”

Gia Burjanadze said that the chairperson should not serve the interest of neither government nor oppositional parties. “S/he should be good professional and independent, knowing his/her duty very well. I think that Irakli Tripolski is the best candidate for the position of chairperson.”

Writer Otia Ioseliani thinks that the chairperson of the Board of Trustees should be a fighter. “Now we need struggle and not to watch the situation from the outside. Honesty should be the first priority. S/he must be Christian and God should indicate him/her the way forward. If s/he listens to the God he will do everything right. I know Davit Turashvili better of all and I know that he is a well suited person for the job. I think he could be a good chairperson.” 

Film-director Merab Kokochashvili thinks that GPB lacks the truth and independence today. He thinks that only independent journalist can speak about the truth these days. Thus, it is important to see respectful journalists on the PB, ones that society trusts. Kokochashvili considers that the chairperson of the Board of Trustees should be impartial, professional, talented and experienced in the sphere. However, a special body for controlling this person is also necessary and needs to be established. “The Board of Trustees is the institution that should control the chairperson. If members of the board do not support any political parties, and take only the public opinion in consideration, they will be truly independent”

Photographer Yuri Mechitov agrees that members and chairperson of the Board of Trustees should not serve any political parties. “They should elect the people whom the society respects and who are outstanding persons in the community. It is desired, though it is not necessary, that the selected people had experience of working in television. I could have trusted a person who has not lost his or her youthful spirit. It is not age that matters but one who has energy and spirit. There should also be a wealth of life-experiences in the person that is chosen.”

Mechitov added that the success of the TV Company depends on the TV Anchor. They should provide the population with balanced information. “The presenter should not be like we want him/her to be. In this case he or she might be very aggressive.”

Guranda Gabunia: ”S/he must know art, science, dance, ballet, and opera, everything that is connected with the broadcasting. Because if s/he is advised to show a bad film on that TV station then  he or she should not be in agreement and it would be a lowering of standards.  S/he must be educated and should love art.”

Actor Kakhi Kavsadze thinks that the chairperson of the board of trustees should know people, and only in such an instance would he or be able to serve the public’s interest.

It is difficult how successful future members and chairperson of the Board of Trustees will be. Currently Estonia national TV-Radio Broadcasting is particularly interested in the implementation of the reforms being implemented at Georgian Public Broadcasting. He supports the TV Company with consultations. As for financial support, it is provided by the Foreign Ministry of Estonia, which will apportion 19 thousand USD from state budget for the purpose.

Nona Suvariani, Tbilisi