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Patriarch’s initiative increases number of book readers

Netgazeti reports that Patriarch Ilia II attended an event dedicated to the life and career of Georgian writer Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani at the Book House on Bakhtrioni Street on July 6th.

“Books should save our souls, our science, our future,” the Patriarch said.

The event was organized by the Youth Centre Davitiani based at the Georgian Patriarchate. The head of Davitiani, Konstantine Svanadze said since Ilia II has begun promoting the book reading tradition the number of readers has increased.

“Interest in reading books has increased among the youth. Libraries in Tbilisi are pleased that this number is increasing from day to day,” Svanadze said, based on the information of the library administrations.

The Patriarch initiated making Saturday as the day of reading books.

The book reading activities have ended for a while. However, it will continue from October. While during the summer, Book’s Friends reading group will visit the regions.

It was around a month ago when the Patriarch said at one of his Sunday sermons that books should be man’s best friend.

“I want to make Saturday the day of reading books so that each of us can go to the libraries. Libraries should be filled with people. The Patriarchate has one of the richest libraries with such books which you cannot find elsewhere,” Ilia II said, encouraging everyone to visit that library, read books and learn a lot.



Public attitude towards TV journalists

Liberali reports that 23% of the Georgian population fully or partly trusts the media, 15% - distrusts, while 51% says they party trust, partly not. According to the Caucasus Barometer 2012 of the Caucasus Research Resources Centers (CRRC), TV remains the main source of spreading information in Georgia. 29% of population somehow agrees with the idea that the Georgian TV journalists serve the public interests, while 16% do not agree with this opinion.

There are no particular differences in opinions according to the age or gender of the respondents. However, women especially in the capital of Tbilisi are more critical towards TV journalists then in the villages.

27% of the respondents across the country consider that TV journalists are providing the public with sufficient information about the issues going on in Georgia; 12% thinks the opposite. Residents of Tbilisi are even more critical.

Caucasus Barometer is the annual survey of the CRRC carried out in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. This survey was carried out in October-November, 2012. 2, 502 people have been interviewed in all the regions across Georgia. The surveys of CRRC are available at www.crrc.ge/oda.