Democracy and the media: international protest against the closure of Greek public broadcaster

No signal: a little bit after 23.00 on Tuesday 11.06.2013

When the microphone of a journalist is cut off, it’s like the voice of democracy being silenced. This has just been brutally done to 1,300 journalists – brutally in all senses because the Greek government has sent in the police to cut off a broadcaster and stop journalists from doing their job. [...] The idea of cutting the signal and sending screens black is the very worst kind of censorship. It’s a violent assault on democratic debate which is not acceptable.

Jean-Paul Philippot,  European Broadcasting Union President

It will be a major blow to democracy, to media pluralism and to journalism as a public good in Greece.

Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, European Federation of Journalists President

 

The break down of the public media in Greece is a barbaric act that has been inflicted on journalists and media workers as part of an increasingly vicious austerity programme. [...] We are not prepared to pay for the economic crisis we did not create. The decision of the state to close down ERT must be reversed. It is an appalling attack on the media and on Greek democracy. 

Michelle Stanistreet, National Union of Journalists General Secretary, UK

[Libération, 13.06.2013]

 Online petitions:

EBU Petition: Get ERT back on air!

avaaz.org

Stop the shutdown of Public Television in Greece!

avaaz.org


 International support:

IFJ/EFJ call for Greek government to revoke closure of public broadcaster

International Federation of Journalists

EBU urges  Greek government to reverse decision on ERT

European Broadcasting Union

IPI German National Committee protests closure of Greek public broadcaster
International Press Institute

SEEMO/IPI deeply concerned over closure of Greek state broadcaster
International Press Institute

UNI General Secretary calls on Greek PM to reverse closure of ERT
UNI  Global Union

 50+ Directors General of public media demand ert to be restored to air
Eurovision


  International coverage:

Council of Europe condemns Greek state TV closure
Associated Press via Yahoo News
 

ERT: BBC director calls on Greek government to reopen broadcaster

Lisa O'Carroll, The Guardian

ERT shutdown: EBU urges EU leader to overturn Greek government decision
Lisa O'Carroll, The Guardian

ERT closure: silencing of broadcaster shocks Greece
Giorgos Christides, BBC News

Killing the messenger: Greek government shuts down the state broadcaster
Maria Margaronis, The Nation

News finds new ways to float as Greek state  broadcaster is shut
Liz Alderman & Niki Kitsantonis, The New York Times

Greek ERT journalists defy order to cease programs
Deutsche Welle
  

ERT websites (in Greek):

ERT Open  |  ERTSocial Facebook  |  Twitter  |  YouTube  
ERT3Social Twitter  |  YouTube 

Online streaming of ERT's signal:

European Broadcasting Union
  
Full list of webpages and frequences