IWPR: Caucasus Reporting Service

Biannual Review - IWPR Caucasus

March 08 to August 08
In the last six months, the main challenge facing the IWPR Caucasus project has been covering the Georgian-Russia war, which erupted in August over the disputed region of South Ossetia.The conflict began on the night of August 7-8, and raged for some five days as Moscow intervened to stop Georgian troops trying to regain control of South Ossetia, which won de facto autonomy in the early 1990s.

Coverage of Russia-Georgian war
“IWPR was the only media organisation in Georgia, which did not suspend operations at any time during the Russian-Georgian war and continued to produce balanced and objective reports for thousands of readers.”

Journalists report on aftermath of war
“I am very grateful to IWPR – were it not for its workshops and visits to conflict regions, my work, I guess, would be less balanced,” said Chibchiuri.

Continued success of Accent radio programme
Following the war, IWPR’s Accent radio programme helped a son find his mother, whom he believed to have been killed during the conflict.

IWPR blog counters media blackout
“Even Russian blogs described [IWPR’s blog] as ‘the most unbiased source’ – an assessment which no other media outlets can boast of having achieved during the war,” said Irakli Lagvilava, a journalist from Zugdidi.

IWPR prepares journalists for conflict reporting
“I started to feel responsible. I checked every word I wrote, afraid to make a mistake due to my lack of experience,” said IWPR-trained journalist Irakli Managadze.

Selection of IWPR Caucasus comments and special reports

Selected articles
Comments
Caucasus Burning, by Thomas de Waal, 19-Aug-08
South Ossetia: An Avoidable Catastrophe, by Thomas de Waal in London, 11-Aug-08
Top of the Class, by Salla Nazarenko in Tbilisi, 23-Jul-08
Bullies of the Caucasus, by Thomas de Waal, May 15 08
The Caucasus Election Script, by Thomas de Waal, 2-Apr-08

Special Report
How the Georgian War Began, by Dmitry Avaliani and Sopho Bukia in Tbilisi, Alan Tskhurbayev in Vladikavkaz and Thomas de Waal in London, 22-Aug-08