17.5.08

Greek journalists protest axing of state TV show

Greek journalists protest axing of state TV show
By Dina Kyriakidou
ATHENS, May 16 (Reuters) - Greece's biggest journalists' union has called on the conservative government to overturn a decision by state broadcaster ERT to scrap a well-regarded TV news show, a move that has sparked accusations of censorship.State-run ERT said this week it was axing the "Reportage Without Frontiers" show, prompting opposition questions in parliament and criticism from the Athens Journalists Union (ESIEA).
"The press minister and ERT's management must answer to the Greek people for their unacceptable behaviour," ESIEA said in a statement late on Thursday. "The union's board demands that our colleagues' shows continue to be broadcast without any cuts."The weekly show's host, Stelios Kouloglou, said his ERT contract had not been renewed after he refused to make changes to some reports, including one on the politically sensitive issue of young, educated Greeks unable to earn more than 700 euros a month."I was told that if I did this programme, there would be a problem renewing my contract next year," Kouloglou told Reuters. "After almost 13 years with ERT, it's the first time I was asked not to show something.""Finally, I was told my show is being cancelled next year because 'they didn't like it'," Kouloglou added, referring to ERT.The broadcaster said it would air the show on the under-employment of young Greeks with good education and skills, and denied political reasons lay behind the cancellation of a show that has won awards at home and abroad."The show had come full circle, it was getting old and was bringing nothing new," ERT President Christos Panagopoulos told Reuters.
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"There is no censorship and if Mr. Kouloglou continues to claim this, he will have to prove it in court."
Opposition parties backed Kouloglou and raised the matter in parliament."Such actions make Greek television poorer," said Left Coalition deputy Fotis Kouvelis. "Successful shows are not cut ... public TV was annoyed by some of his stories."Press Minister and government spokesman Theodore Roussopoulos defended the broadcaster, telling parliament: "All shows come full circle and at some point finish."
"All journalists know their freedom of expression has been respected more than ever before in the past four years."

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