Abstract
Greece’s record on press freedom ranked low among both EU countries and western Balkan countries in 2015, coming in just above Bulgaria, Montenegro and Macedonia.1 Reporters Without Borders (RWB) ranked Greece 18th in 2005 and 34th worldwide in 2009. By 2015, however, Greece had fallen to 91st worldwide (out of 180 countries) in the RWB World Press Freedom Index.2 Why has this slide occurred?
The first decade of the new millennium saw Greece hit by a severe financial, political and social crisis. In 2009, private bank debt was incorporated into Greek sovereign debt, leaving the country with a €24 billion deficit.3 Since then, the ratio of debt-to-GDP grew further, with all the implications that this could have for a small European country: mass layoffs, a record rise in unemployment, unbearable taxes, the flaring-up of hate speech and anti-migrant discourse, a rise in support for extreme right-wing parties such as Golden Dawn and daily demonstrations against austerity measures. Media companies and press publishers were severely affected by the crisis, together with the business and third sectors more generally.
The first decade of the new millennium saw Greece hit by a severe financial, political and social crisis. In 2009, private bank debt was incorporated into Greek sovereign debt, leaving the country with a €24 billion deficit.3 Since then, the ratio of debt-to-GDP grew further, with all the implications that this could have for a small European country: mass layoffs, a record rise in unemployment, unbearable taxes, the flaring-up of hate speech and anti-migrant discourse, a rise in support for extreme right-wing parties such as Golden Dawn and daily demonstrations against austerity measures. Media companies and press publishers were severely affected by the crisis, together with the business and third sectors more generally.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | International Press Institute |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |