Digital Video Conference between Kansas University Journalism and Mass Communications students and Journalism students in Georgia
On Wednesday, May 6, the US Embassy's Public Affairs Section hosted 50 journalism students from the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA), Ilia Chavchavadze State University, Tbilisi State University, Caucasus University, and University of Georgia to a Digital Video Conference (DVC) with fellow journalism students from Kansas University. Among the aspiring local journalists were students from Azerbaijan and Armenia who are studying in Georgia. The interactive dialogue explored a wide range of topics from media ethics and professional codes of conduct to the need to safeguard press freedoms in both countries. Participants took note of World Press Freedom Day, celebrated a few days earlier on May 3. The DVC format lent itself to a lively discussion as students focused on many common themes, including press censorship and objectivity in reporting.