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Press Freedom in Greece 2014

Since the closure of ERT in 2013, the organisation of 'Journalists without Borders' has noted a deterioration in the freedom of the press. This substantiates other observations as to a curtailment in access to information which would be substantial enough to allow for qualified judgements about the legislative and political process in the country. Control of the media can be equated with how the 'collective mind' is kept only in the picture as far as controllable news affirms the impression the government is in control and the crisis can be overcome. The media strategy analysed in conjunction with the closure of ERT seems to work, but the report does point out a further reason why. For aside from many more journalists having become unemployed, or else if still working, then in a very restrictive way, there are indirect methods of intimitation at work.

Add to this the usual form of clientelism and favouratism, then the situation becomes even worse. There used to be a special quality to Greek reports since the journalists found often a better access to information than others from major news channels, but the media manipulation has closed down on this source of independent reporting. Instead a certain style has been adopted which is reflected as well at university level when doing, for example, book reviews on the memory list. For now every review has to be preceded by a certain catch phrase in order to catch the attention of the reader, and if it does not catch the reader, it means there is no interest in reading the entire article.

 

What the report says about Greece:

The 2007 economic crisis hit the Greek media hard. The few wealthy shipowners and entrepreneurs who financed the national media have moved their investments into more profitable sectors. One news organisation after another has announced layoffs. Many journalists are now unemployed. As well as economic difficulties, the Greek media have a bad reputation that is the result of years of clientelism.
Reporters covering the frequent street protests against the austerity measures adopted by a series of short-lived governments have been the victims of both police violence and violence by demonstrators accusing them of colluding with the government.
The security situation has been aggravated by the rise of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, which won nearly 20 seats in the Voulí (parliament) in June 2012 thanks to euroscepticism and growing hostility towards foreigners accused of “stealing Greece”. Golden Dawn’s leaders and supporters openly target journalists. Physical attacks have become systematic throughout the country. Death threats are growing.
June 2013 was a turning point in Greece’s media history. In a race to cut spending, conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras took what was an unprecedented decision in a European Union country. Under pressure from the troika (the European Commission, European Central Bank and IMF) to reduce the budget deficit, Samaras closed the state-owned national broadcaster, ERT, consisting of four TV stations and five radio stations.
Just hours after ERT was told of the decision, dark screens with the words “No signal” stunned Europe and the world. Under international pressure, the government finally announced the creation of a new state broadcaster to be called Nerit. (1)
 

 References:

1.

Greece plummets to 99th place in press freedom index

Slippage represents 'dizzying fall for the world’s oldest democracy', says Reporters Without Borders

Updated At: 19:08 Wednesday 12 February 2014

Author: Damian Mac Con Uladh

http://www.enetenglish.gr/?i=news.en.article&id=1758&utm_source=EnetEnglish+general&utm_campaign=29732e6966-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2d5bc1ed1e-29732e6966-31714781

 

 

 

 

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