A demonstration has been planned outside of the public television and radio broadcast center in Athens in support of the fired workers of ERT who are continuing their fight for their dignity and the public's right to unbiased reporting.
Minister tells BBC that national broadcaster shutdown was never about saving money
In a report broadcast Thursday 17 October on BBC Radio 4’s ‘PM Programme’, the Deputy Minister responsible for public television, Pantelis Kapsis, said that the closure of ERT was “a shocking decision”. “It was very sad and abrupt. And it gave the wrong impression,” he said.
Analysis: What lurks beneath the closure of ERT
by Apostolis Fotiadis
The real reasons behind the ERT shutdown, the 300 million the state lost, and who benefits from it.
ERT is (Greek) history: photo gallery + video
Following the closure of ERT in June staff had continued to occupy the broadcast center for several months. In November in an operation that lasted only a few minutes, police forces entered the building from a side entrance and proceeded to clear it of any remaining staff, arresting four in the process, including the head of ERT's union.
Video: The Lost Signal of Democracy – Theatrical trailer
The unprecedented June events, when National Broadcaster ERT was shut down by the government, through the lens of journalist and documentary filmmaker Yorgos Avgeropoulos.
The new Greek public broadcaster: A story of crime and (non) punishment
by Costas Efimeros
Six months after the controversial ERT shutdown, the new public broadcaster is mired in problems and legally dubious practices. Using an unprecedented legal trick, the government attempting to grant immunity to Gikas Manalis, the chief liquidator of ERT, for all actions committed during his tenure that could lead to criminal charges. Just now, the Parliament's advisory board deemed it 'unconstitutional'.
Public loss, private gain
While the past year saw the abrupt closure of the public broadcaster – unprecedented for any modern democracy, developments have been far more positive for privately owned TV and radio stations. These are largely concentrated in the hands of a few influential and politically well-connected business interests who have received a number of questionable ‘gifts’ from the government, including tax waivers and bargain-bin prices on digital frequencies.
A new government gift to media barons just in time for Christmas (and the new fiscal year)
A 20% tax on TV advertising – initially due to be imposed three years ago – is delayed for yet another year by a ministerial decision despite a recent 23.5% increase in TV advertising revenues. Once again taxpayers are left to make up the shortfall in the government's budget.
A tender with only one bidder for rights to digital frequencies
by Gerasimos Livitsanos
The government considers it perfectly acceptable to award the broadcast rights for the full range of digital frequencies for only 16,777 euros a month for MEGA, ANT1, SKAI and Alpha.
The Impact on Greek Press Freedom
Thanks to the government’s closure of ERT and the increased concentration of media power in the hands of a few well-connected business figures, Greece suffered the most dramatic slide in press freedom rankings worldwide:
Greece leads worldwide decline in press freedom
Over the past five years Greece has seen the largest decline in press freedom in the world, according to a report issued by the US NGO, Freedom House. Greece slid to 96th place in the rankings produced by the organisation, the lowest level of any EU member state and below countries including the Philippines, Brazil and Botswana.
A 'dizzying' decline: the effect of the economic crisis on press freedom in Greece
According to the Reporters Without Borders, press freedom in Greece has suffered a precipitous decline over the past five years due to the effects of austerity and government decisions. In five years Greece has tumbled more than 50 places in the organisation's World Press Freedom Index.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso and its partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. The project's page: Safety Net for European Journalists. A Transnational Support Network for Media Freedom in Italy and South-east Europe.
