ASK WHY? Docs has been hugely successful in Denmark. Now thanks to funding from the New Democracy Fund, The Why is set to launch the project in Georgia.

The media landscape in Georgia has long been characterized by a delicate balance between government interference, political parallelism, and a strong push for media freedom. Throughout its transition to democracy, the media has faced challenges such as state censorship, attacks on journalists, and a lack of independent funding. However, amidst these obstacles, there have been notable efforts to professionalize the media and establish public service broadcasting.  

In a time when media freedom and democratic values are coming under threat in Georgia, The Why will forge a partnership with the Georgian Media Development Foundation (MDF), providing a human rights education through documentary films in six different regions. 

WHY GEORGIA? 

Today, the media in Georgia continues to face numerous challenges. Journalists and media outlets confront verbal, physical, and digital attacks, while media polarization remains a pressing issue. Intensified information war with Russian propaganda has demonstrated further vulnerabilities of Independent Georgian media. Moreover, low media literacy and lack of political awareness contribute to the limited understanding and critical engagement of the population with media content. This precarious situation necessitates urgent action to safeguard media freedom and empower the next generation of professionals and engaged citizens.

WHY MDF?

The partnership between the WHY Foundation and MDF is driven by the alignment of their missions and shared commitment to advancing democratic values through storytelling. The WHY Foundation's mission to engage people in defending human rights through the power of storytelling dovetails with MDF's objectives of promoting fundamental human rights, fostering critical thinking, and enhancing media accountability. Through the Democracy Fellowship project, the two organizations aim to create an enabling environment for democratic dialogue among Georgian youth.

WHY NOW? 

The current challenges facing Georgia in its creative and political dimensions demand immediate attention. The Democratic degradation, as evidenced by the government’s legal initiatives such as “Foreign Agents Law” known as “Russian Law” and declining interest of young adults in politics (Recent FES survey-62% of young people in Georgia say they are not interested in politics), poses a significant threat to the country's democratic future. Moreover, the recent crackdown on cultural institutions including state Film center, further endangers freedom of expression and artistic freedom. 

In this context, the partnership between the WHY Foundation and MDF assumes paramount importance. By empowering Georgian youth and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and tools to engage in democratic processes, the project addresses the gaps in formal education and provides a platform for political agency and democratic dialogue. By fostering critical thinking and media literacy, the WHY Foundation and MDF aim to reverse the trend of disinterest in politics and rejuvenate democracy in Georgia. 

In September, we also started a new partnership with the independent Georgian broadcast channel Mtavari TV. They will be dubbing 55 of our films into Georgian and airing them in the coming months.