Greece Strengthens Journalist Safety with National Plan

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW

Greece is preparing an 84-action National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, covering eight key areas and including measures to protect reporters working in war zones and areas affected by natural and climate-related disasters.

Secretary General for Communication and Information Dimitris Kirmikiroglou announced the plan during the 19th Journalists’ Conference of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions (POESY) in Samothraki.

Kirmikiroglou addressed the conference online shortly before a session on the environmental crisis and its coverage by the media.

He congratulated POESY and its member unions on the conference’s 19-year continuity, highlighting the significance of holding the event on the remote island of Samothraki.

“The journalism does not belong to the centre; it belongs to all of Greece, and especially to the places where the citizen’s voice is heard with greater difficulty,” he said.

Journalism plays a critical role during crises

Kirmikiroglou focused his remarks on journalism’s role during crises and linked reliable information directly to public safety.

Referring to the climate crisis and the 2023 Evros wildfire, which he described as the largest fire ever recorded in the European Union, he stressed the importance of accurate information during natural disasters.

“In a natural disaster, information is not simply a right; it is a matter of safety, a matter of life,” he said.

He described environmental crisis journalism as one of the most demanding forms of journalism because it requires speed and accuracy at the same time, scientific knowledge and human sensitivity, courage in the field and composure in the studio.

He also highlighted the work of local and regional journalists, who often reach affected areas before major television crews and continue reporting on the aftermath after national media organisations have left.

National Action Plan includes 84 measures

Kirmikirouglou said journalist protection forms a central part of the government’s current policy agenda.

For the first time, Greece is developing a National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, with 84 actions across eight areas.

The plan is currently undergoing consultation with journalists’ unions, universities, civil society organisations and young people. The process will also include regional workshops.

The government has also incorporated journalist safety measures into the new Collective Labour Agreement for public-sector journalists, which it signed with the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) and the Journalists’ Union of Periodical and Electronic Press (ESPIΤ) in July.

The agreement includes certified training for journalists who work in war zones or areas affected by natural and climate-related crises.

It also provides free and confidential psychological support before, during and after such assignments. The support extends to journalists’ families and includes a confidential complaints mechanism for incidents of harassment.

Anti-SLAPP protections

Kirmikirouglou also addressed legislation against abusive lawsuits, known as anti-SLAPP measures, stressing the need to protect journalists investigating matters of public interest.

“A journalist investigating an environmental violation should not fear judicial annihilation,” he said.

Disinformation follows disasters

The conference also examined the spread of disinformation during periods of crisis.

False reports, conspiracy theories and AI-generated images can accompany major natural disasters, making it more difficult for citizens to distinguish reliable information from fabricated content.

The General Secretariat for Communication and Information is coordinating the development of a National Strategy to Combat Disinformation, working with the academic community and the European fact-checking network.

“The most effective response to disinformation is not the state. It is reliable journalism. Our role is to support it, not replace it,” Kirmikirouglou said.

Regional media hubs expand

The government is also seeking to strengthen regional journalism because local media play a critical role in areas facing natural disasters and other emergencies.

According to Kirmikirouglou, the initiative for Regional Media Hubs has already begun.

The first hub operates in Didymoteicho under the name 1st Thrace Media Hub, in cooperation with Democritus University of Thrace and the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The initiative aims to give regional journalists greater access to training, professional tools and collaboration networks.

A new press-support programme also began this year, with particular attention to regional media organisations.

Media literacy programme targets young people

Kirmikirouglou also highlighted the pilot programme Cultivating Critical Readers, which operated in 35 schools in cooperation with Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Authorities have also begun preparing a National Media Literacy Strategy, involving experts, academics and journalists’ associations.

The strategy aims to strengthen citizens’ ability to assess the reliability and origins of the information they receive, with particular emphasis on young people.

Language accuracy and the future of journalism

The Greek language also featured prominently at the conference.

Kirmikirouglou referred to journalism’s historic role in spreading the Greek language, saying that “journalism taught Greek to the world”.

He also urged journalists to explain the increasingly complex scientific and technical terminology surrounding the climate crisis in language that the wider public can understand.

“The accuracy of language is the first form of accuracy in the news,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Kirmikirouglou paid tribute to veteran journalist Giannis Marinos, who ended his journalism career after 61 years.

He described Marinos as a model of professional ethics and social awareness and connected his legacy to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.

New technologies can produce text, Kirmikirouglou noted, but journalism extends beyond content production. Social awareness, the pursuit of truth and responsibility towards readers remain fundamental elements of the profession.

The 19th Journalists’ Conference in Samothraki is being broadcast by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).

Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on Google News and Apple News.