"Hate Speech" in South Caucasus Media

23-24 November, Batumi hosted a conference, which finalized the South Caucasus media monitoring for the period from 1 to 31 October 2014.

The conference was called "Hate speech and information warfare: a challenge to quality journalism."

Monitoring was conducted by combining Yeni Nesil, Yerevan Press Club and the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics. The organizer of the conference and the customer of the monitoring was Academy (Radio) Deutsche Welle.

The study was conducted to examine the linguistic features of "hate speech", based on the recommendations of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

In each country 2 channels, 2 newspapers and 2 sites underwent monitoring.

The analysis of material took into account the nature of "hate speech", its frequency, thematic focus, destination and type of "hate speech" and so on.

On the Azerbaijani side the monitoring included Public TV and ANS channels, the newspapers 525 and Yeni Musavat, the APA website and the news site Contact.az.

According to the head of Yeni Nesil Arif Aliyev, in these media were studied 8,676 materials, in 342 of which elements of "hatred" were found.

Most frequent was the ethnic character of enmity. So, over the last month there were recorded 196 materials, where Armenians were called "invaders" and "enemies".

In the second place were internal policy materials (89) containing "hate speech".

In 70 materials on the international and interstate topics "hate speech" was also recorded.

Monitored in Armenia were Public TV, the TV channel Armenia, Aravot, Voice of Armenia and the online edition Lragir.am and News.am.

According to the chairman of Media Diversity Institute Elina Poghosbekian, 11 748 materials were investigated, of which elements of "hate speech" were recorded in 221 materiala.

Most of "hate speech" was used by Aravot and Voice of Armenia.

Most expressed was hostility against Azerbaijanis.

In two publications Germany was accused of complicity in the “Armenian genocide" in 1915 and, for supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

In the international category "hate speech" has been applied to the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

At the same time, profanity, hate and extremely offensive attacks were found in readers' comments to the "hot" online media publications.

All of this becomes available to the general audience, increasing intolerance, confrontation and an atmosphere of hostility. Therefore, the question arises about editing comments, believes Poghosbekian.

On the Georgian side included in the monitoring was the channel of Public Broadcasting and the TV station Rustavi 2, the newspapers Resonance and Kviris Palette and online editions Ambebi.ge and Netgazeti.ge

Executive Director of the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics Tamar Rukhadze said that 4,593 materials were investigated. Of the total number, "hate speech" was recorded in 115.

Most often, the feud had domestic political focus. As a rule, such a language was used by politicians, officials and public figures. Political opponents often resort to outright abuse.

As for ethnic orientation, the "hatred" is most common in relation to the Russians and the Armenians, and then to the Chinese, the Turks, the Azerbaijanis and the Greeks.

Xenophobic statements generally relate to those ethnic groups, for which stereotypes exist in Georgia.

With regard to international issues, mostly "hate speech" was recorded for Russia and Vladimir Putin.

During the discussions over the results of the monitoring, the event participants expressed the view that the three South Caucasus countries have frozen conflicts. It is natural that the conflicting parties do not praise each other. However, the endless use of "hate speech" only reinforces hostility. -04B-