Reporters Without Borders: Greece plunged more than 50 places in Press Freedom Index within 5 years

(Before It's News)

Freedom of press and information suffered a huge decline in Greece according to the Press Freedom Index 2014 published by the international organization Reporters Without Borders. Index 2014 places Greece in the 99th position, that is 14 points lower when compared with report 2013, where Greece held position number 85th and position 71st in 2012. In two years Greece fell 28 places and plunged more than 50 places in the world ranking in the space of just five years.

“This is a dizzying fall for the world’s oldest democracy,” RWB notes.

Excerpt on Greece

“While freedom of information is occasionally abused in some European Union countries, it is repeatedly and blatantly flouted in others. This is the case in Greece, which has plunged more than 50 places in the press freedom index in the space of just five years. This is a dizzying fall for the world’s oldest democracy.

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 organization 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.” (Reporters without Borders)

PSs In the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s hardest austerity program, I would add.

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