What Georgian Public Broadcaster has already done, especially with respect to distancing with governmental influence and belonging to the public  is quite impressive – said Jonathan Stoneman, the BBC Trainer after completion of the training held for journalists of Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

Editorial Guideline for Georgian Public Broadcaster was elaborated within the framework of the training the main principles of which have already been adhered to by GPB, according to Stoneman.

“The training was an extraordinary experience for me. I have never held a seminar in remote mode before. What Georgian Public Broadcaster has already done, especially with respect to distancing with the governmental influence epoch and start belonging to the public  in line with the European practice is quite and truly impressive. The interest of journalists was inspiring as well as their wish to achieve much more. As for Editorial Policy document, which we have elaborated, its main principles have already been followed by Georgian Public Broadcaster.

In those countries, where broadcasters have the principles on paper, everybody known which game rules the journalists are acting with. If someone says that he/she does not like the coverage or violates a rule, we always have the document to guide with and to ask which rule has been breached. Here are the rules and we are observing them. The viewer always knows what you are doing and how, and if criticism is needed, what is to be criticized,” Stoneman said.

Georgian Public Broadcaster trained journalists ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections. Jonathan Stoneman, BBC Trainer held the exercise in online format. The training comprised different topics such as impartiality, independence precision, fairness and accountability.

Jonathan Stoneman has been with World Service since 1992, having worked previously for BBC Television. He currently manages Consulting Company Stonepeople Media.