Event Organized by the Peace Journalism Lab of the Department of Journalism & Mass Media at AUTh and Transparency International Greece
The event titled “Media and the Quality of Democracy”, organized by the Peace Journalism Lab of the Department of Journalism and Mass Media at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) in collaboration with Transparency International Greece, was successfully held on Tuesday, January 2, 2025, at the AUTh Amphitheater.
The event focused on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), aimed at silencing and intimidating journalists. The discussion highlighted the institutional measures taken by the Greek government to protect journalists from such abusive practices, as well as the crucial role of the media in maintaining and enhancing the quality of democracy.
The Secretary General for Communication and Information, Mr. Dimitris Galamatis, in a virtual intervention, announced the transformation of the Task Force on SLAPPs, established in 2022, into a permanent dialogue body. This body will meet regularly to explore ways to strengthen journalists' protection and implement the relevant EU directive into national law.
During the event, the President of Transparency International Greece, Mr. Giorgos Chatzigiannakis, emphasized the media’s role as a pillar of democracy and the need to protect journalism from intimidation tactics through abusive lawsuits.
“Media should not be a battleground but a lever to promote transparency and the fundamental principles of democratic society,” he stated.
Professor Nikolaos Panagiotou from the Department of Journalism and Mass Media at AUTh, highlighted the challenges faced by modern media, stressing the importance of transparency and journalistic accountability.
“Transparency builds trust in practice and mobilizes citizens to actively participate in the democratic process,” he noted.
The discussion included representatives from journalism, law, and civil society. Emphasis was placed on the media’s role as a watchdog, ensuring pluralism, objective reporting, and press freedom.
Olga Markogiannaki, Deputy Spokesperson of PASOK-KINAL, noted:
“Quality information is the oxygen of democracy, and ensuring pluralism is essential for a healthy democratic society.”
Participants in the SLAPPs Discussion Included:
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Yiannis Kotsifos, Director of ESIEMTH (Journalists’ Union of Macedonia and Thrace Daily Newspapers)
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Andreas Panagopoulos, Organizational Secretary of POESY (Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Unions)
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Theodoros Chondrogiannos, Journalist at Reporters Unite
Second Session: “Do Media Today Contribute to the Protection of Democracy?”
The second session, moderated by Dimitris Kafteranis from Transparency International Greece, featured presentations from:
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Dimitris Finokaliotis, President of the Thessaloniki Bar Association
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Sophia Christoforidou, Journalist at Makedonia and Inside Story
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Wisner David, Executive Director of the Dukakis Center
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Florian Schmitz, Journalist at Deutsche Welle
Key Takeaways
The event underscored the importance of institutional interventions to enhance press freedom, protect journalists from abusive lawsuits, and ensure transparency as a prerequisite for strengthening democracy.
The Peace Journalism Lab of AUTh remains committed to studying and promoting issues related to transparency, press freedom, and the media’s role in safeguarding democratic quality.στη μελέτη και ανάδειξη θεμάτων που αφορούν τη διαφάνεια, την ελευθερία του Τύπου και τη συμβολή των ΜΜΕ στη διατήρηση της ποιότητας της Δημοκρατίας.
