17 January 2013 Last updated at 07:35 ET

Georgia profile

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline
• In pictures

Newspaper readership is generally low in Georgia

Television is the main source of news, and accounts for the lion's share of the advertising market. There are dozens of cable operators and a handful of major commercial stations. Newspaper readership is generally low.

Government-funded Georgian Public Broadcasting has replaced the former state radio and TV. The state has relinquished other media assets, including newspapers and a news agency.

The constitution provides for freedom of speech, and journalists often criticise officials. US-based Freedom House says the media environment is highly politicised. The main national TVs tend to back the government, while some smaller networks criticise the authorities.

The creation of "really independent media with strong safeguards against owner interference" is a key challenge, says Reporters Without Borders.

There were 1.3 million internet users by June 2010 (Internetworldstats). Greater online access has led to a growth in social media use. Facebook is Georgia's most popular web destination, while Forum.ge is a widely-used chat forum. Twitter has yet to establish a major foothold and there is a low public awareness of blogs.

The armed conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008 saw cyber attacks on online assets belonging to both sides.

The press

• Sakartvelos Respublika (Republic of Georgia) - daily, former government mouthpiece
• 24 Saati (24 Hours) - private daily, set up by Rustavi group
• Rezonansi (Resonance) - private, daily
• Akhali Versia (New Version) - private, thrice weekly
• Kvilis Palitra - private, weekly
• The Georgian Times - English-language, weekly
• Georgia Today - English-language, weekly
• The Messenger - English-language daily

Television

• Georgian Public TV - operates two networks
• Rustavi-2 - major private network
• Imedi TV - private network
• Mze TV - major private network

Radio

• Georgian Public Radio - operates two networks
• Radio Imedi - private, national news and speech network
• Fortuna FM - private, music-based
• Mtsvane Talgha (Green Wave) - national network linked to non-governmental organisations

News agencies/internet

• GHN - private, pages in English
• Medianews - private, pages in English
• InterpressNews - private, pages in English
• Civil Georgia - run by UN Association of Georgia, pages in English