In the early 80s (I was a young journalist at RIZOSPASTI), there was a widespread perception that «the journalism has retreated» due to the dynamic invasion of the journalism of the Auriannis type, while serious bourgeois journalism was not «at its best» ....

In the late 80«s we used to say that »journalism has retreated" because the phenomenon of Koskosota…

In the early 90s (I was working at SKAI at the time), we still thought that «journalism is in crisis» because various shipowners started to set up television stations with low quality broadcasts.

After 2000 (I was working at ERT) «we experienced the greatness of the Olympic games» and we lived in a «pink cloud». The cries of waste and predation due to the Olympics were few and far between.

On Memoranda (I was working at VIMA FM), there was still a widespread impression that «journalism is in crisis» and the media were «washing out» the memorandum policies.

Now again we live in times Furthiotis, daytime executions (Karaiwaz), journalists' dismissals (Krustalli, Akrita etc.), fake news, aversion to the «mainstream media».

Finally, are we going from bad to worse, is it the journalists' fault or is there something else deeper?;

In my view there is a interlocking system in which everyone has a stake:

First of all the politicians, those who want to control information in every way, intervening in an extreme way, challenging citizens (who at some point receive real information through the social media) and creating aversion to the media.

Never before have there been so many journalists appointed to public positions (press offices, etc.).

Never before have there been so many journalists who literally behave as party representatives (on TV panels, in writing articles, etc.).

Never before have there been so many journalists-parliamentarians.

But never before have the owners of the «mainstream» media been so «tolerant» or even encouraged, so that the media they control are in direct line with the press offices of the parties they support (mainly, of course, with ND) and take on the «dirty work».

But never before has there been so much distaste for the «product» that their «shops» sell...

We understand each other, I think! The majority of media owners are no longer the old traditional «newspapermen», but well-known businessmen who, next to their businesses and the group they control, they want to have a powerful media «to do favors»...

In fact, they want to rule through others! Anyone who even seeks to set some rules of operation must be prosecuted, even by special courts. Of course, next to them a system has been set up to control advertising which is largely driven to media on the basis of «mutual service»...

We must not forget that many of these TV «garbage» have fanatical supporters in society. If we (society) didn't watch/read/listen to these shows, they would have no reason to exist... «I am your image, I am your communion and I am like you»!

And we come to the journalists: It's easy to be damned, hard to stand up in times like these... Politicians and media owners sort of co-decide who will be the director of their media, who will do the reporting for «our party», who will be the main columnist. Even who will have broadcasts is a matter of discussion among them.

Some media maintain certain «opposing voices», just for «fun» and make sure that the «basic message» is what the owner/master/party wants. In these circumstances there is room for «Fourthies», but it's tough for those who want to do their journalistic work.

The question is, is there a «further down»? There always is, unfortunately. As long as society tolerates such phenomena, as long as it does not pressure political leaders to stop overt interference, as long as politicians tolerate the notorious «pimps» (according to Kostas Karamanlis) to run the country, there is room for «further down».

Those who do not understand that information is an element of democracy are short-sighted. When the relationship of trust between society and the media is broken, then the anti-democratic forces find space to «pass» every doctrine and conspiracy in the consciousness of the citizens. Then we enter the age of monsters...

We all know what I'm implying! And this is certainly not in anyone's long-term interest, however temporarily facilitated by the «communication service» offered to them.

The Fourthiotis case, the «bums-robbers-journalists» and so on, are bells that do not only concern the journalistic world, but democracy in general.

Bold decisions beyond narrow party/business interests are required. The initiative of course belongs to society and the parties...

Yannis Koroneos is a journalist