Panel discussion: Media in Greece: Watchdog or Lapdog?

Venue: Hotel Electra Palace Athens, Navarchou Nikodimou 18-20, Athens 105 57, Hall ALKYONI

The surveillance of a journalist, the murder of a reporter and a number of lawsuits against media (“SLAPPs”) highlight the deterioration of media freedom in Greece.

The urgency of this topic becomes clear once the role of the media in a functioning democracy is highlighted. Safety issues for journalists, close and non-transparent relationships between media outlets and the government, as well as (self-)censorship can have tremendous consequences for the democratic process. In a country where journalists are prevented from reporting critically on the government, citizens‘ freedom of information can no longer be ensured. Eventually, electoral decisions are affected as the possibility for citizens to develop a substantiated and informed opinion is impeded.

To give this subject a stage, our event brings together different journalists that shall provide the audience with a critical insight into the current state of press freedom in Greece:

• Stavros Malichudis, Reporters United and Solomon
• Apostolis Fotiadis, freelance reporter and researcher
• Verena Schälter, ARD correspondent, based in Athens
• Eliza Triantafyllou, Inside Story

Chair:  Nektaria Stamouli, President of the Foreign Press Association in Greece

The event will be held in English and Greek. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

You can find more information in the program attached below.

Please send your RSVP response with your name, function/organization and E-mail by November 15^th at rebecca.konrad(at)fes.de