Editorial: Mudslinging versus the truth

Those of us who have experienced the generalised crisis in the Greek media, including the Lambrakis Press (DOL), during the last decade of deep recession know first hand the intensity and depth of the efforts of then rising political forces, especially the current government, to co-opt the media.

SYRIZA and its initially weak leadership started out by seeking contact with and coverage and promotion by the Lambrakis Press and an associated television channel in which it was a shareholder. Indeed, that was generously offered based on the principles of objectivity and equal treatment.

Yet, the evolving crisis created new realities in politics and intensified the arrogant demands of the neo-leftist populist party.

Especially after the double elections of 2012 when Syriza's electoral percentages rose dramatically and the prospect of governing became real the party bigwigs set aside bourgeois niceties and expanded their list of demands.

Between 2012 and 2014 the opposition SYRIZA party started directly demanding that centre-left media and especially those belonging to DOL offer favourable coverage of the party.

Their argument was: "Pasok is dead and we are now the democratic centre-left and you have a duty to support us."
The only problem was that the views and outlook of SYRIZA cadres about how to handle the crisis were a far cry from the positions of To Vima and Ta Nea.

This of course was a mere detail for the luminaries of SYRIZA who have always believed that newspapers and other media are not the product of free journalists but rather should blindly follow the party line.

Thus, when they won the 2014 European Parliament Elections and power was within reach they went overboard. They exploited the dire...