Greece plummets to 99th place in press freedom index

Slippage represents 'dizzying fall for the world’s oldest democracy', says Reporters Without Borders

Updated At: 19:08 Wednesday 12 February 2014

Author: Damian Mac Con Uladh

'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,' says Reporters Without Borders annual press freedom report

A 'no signal ' sign appears on the public ERT, NET and ERT3 channels, after the government suspended state television and radio broadcaster ERT in June (AFP) Freedom of information is "repeatedly and blatantly flouted" in Greece, pushing the country into 99th place out of 180 countries this year's World Press Freedom Index.
The country's downwards spiral in press freedom, which represents a remarkable drop of 80 places since 2002, is a "dizzying fall for the world’s oldest democracy", said Reporters Without Borders, which authored the report. 
Although closely challenged by Greece, Bulgaria – in 100th place – retains the status of lowest ranked European Union country after a trying year marked by five months of major protests and political tension.
“Suffering from the effects of the economic crisis and a surge in populism, Greece (99th) fell 14 places” on last year, the report, published on Wednesday, said.
“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,” it added.
The report said that apart from economic difficulties - it refers to the rising unemployment among journalists - "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," it added.
It referred to the shutdown by the New Democracy-Pasok government of the country's national broadcaster ERT in June, describing it as a "a turning point in Greece’s media history", one that also represented "an unprecedented decision in a European Union country".