The nationwide federation of journalist unions POESY has issued an open letter addressing its concerns regarding the government’s plans on the creation of a public broadcasting service that must fulfill its democratic and constitutional duties.
The federation, which has been highly vocal and critical of the government’s decision to shut down ERT without warning in the summer, is concerned because the current “replacement” does not live up to expectations and only euphemistically can it be referred to as a “Public Television”. The government’s plans have been lambasted by the international and European federations of journalists.
POESY suggests that the “Greek BBC” which the government has promised is being set up “with local station specifications” in mind and will not provide the independent, pluralistic public radio and television services. The federation asserts that the government intends to subvert “free and impartial information”, in direct contradiction to the Constitution.
Furthermore, the journalist union federation accused the government of colluding with and supporting private interests in the media sector, while citing the Prime Minister’s earlier promises of establishing transparent procedures.
Another point raised in the letter is that according to the government’s plans, NERIT will only employ 132 journalists, significantly less than previously employed by ERT. As a result, news coverage will be restricted to Athens and Thessaloniki, directly contradicting the government’s commitments to upgrade the public broadcasting services.
In closing POESY argues that a true public broadcasting service must comply with its constitutional role, rather than serve the political interests of each government, while calling for the subject to be discussed in Parliament.
