GREECE: Journalists strike over cut backs

Record ID: 340243

  • Title: GREECE: Journalists strike over cut backs
  • Date: 1st December 2010
  • Summary: JOURNALIST WITH HIS DAUGHTER IN HIS ARMS MARCHING
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Employment
  • Reuters ID: LVA1GRVHEOP4UK0KAU18KHTZ9ATL
  • Story Text: Hundreds of journalists became the news instead of reporting it on Tuesday (November 30), after staging a protest rally in Athens over cuts to jobs and wages.
    Television broadcasts, radio news bulletins and programs were cancelled as part of the 24 hour strike organised by the Journalists Union of Athens.
    Newspapers would also not be published on Wednesday (December 1), as reporters, cameramen, and photographers took part in the strike.
    "Workers at media organisations have to protect their rights. They are there to provide the news, and a country without news is a country in darkness," said protesting journalist George Delikaris.
    These workers have also been hit by the economic crisis which has caused shrinking revenues throughout the media sector as Greece struggles with a recession and debt crisis.
    Private media organisations are cutting staff, pay and reducing work hours on a wide scale.
    Two daily newspapers have already folded, affecting hundreds of journalists.
    Contract journalists at the public state broadcaster have also suffered wage cuts or been laid off as part of the government's programme to shrink costs in the public sector.
    It is expected that unemployment may reach as high as 14 percent next year as the economic crisis affects consumption, hurting businesses.
    The government continues to implement a reform programme where wages and pensions have been cut and temporary work contracts are not being renewed, affecting consumer spending.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
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