The Newspaper ‘Eleftherotypia’, Freedom of Press and Democracy

Eleftherotypia was never just another newspaper.

Eleftherotypia made history.

And recorded history in the making: the history of the post-1974 Metapolitefsi.

It made history documenting Greece’s historic progress from dictatorship to democracy; the process by which the nation healed the wounds of the past, modernized, acquired a welfare state, opened up to the world.

At the same time, Eleftherotypia provided a focal point for the forces of democracy after 1974.

As the democratic space was being transformed by an emerging new radicalism for which none of the pre-dictatorial variations on Centrism was a good match.

Doing something in the journalistic field comparable to what Andreas Papandreou was doing in the political sphere by founding PASOK.

Eleftherotypia was able to represent a whole spectrum of views from the center- to the far-left, but never lost touch with a progressive political grouping that could govern in order to change Greece.

And it did this by maintaining a characteristic independence, a singularly combative stance to power, and its ability to stand tall—even to stand up to PASOK itself—under the “We support change, we hold power accountable” banner.

Which is why it stubbornly refused to become a partisan, party newspaper.

It was a newspaper that changed the course of the Press and brought with it a vitality, militancy and modern perspective that allowed it to always stay one step ahead of the rest of the media.

And when it closed, it was a blow and a loss for the country, for pluralism, for the Press, and for education—and not only for the hundreds of people who worked there and the hundreds of thousands who had read it fanatically.

Because newspapers aren’t just “opinions” or “points of view”; they’re more than just one set of voices among many.

When it does its job properly, a newspaper is a continuous schooling.

It produces knowledge, structures thought, shapes the culture of an era.

There was a time when, if a citizen sat down and read a newspaper like Eleftherotypia, they could gain a comprehensive grasp of current affairs, understand the issues, participate in the battle of ideas, acquire a knowledge of the issues at stake in any given situation. In short, they would become properly politicized.

Compare this educational experience with what the current flood of superficial yet toxic social media attention-seeking entails, with its uncritical surfeit of information that becomes misinformation and disorientates the reader so they lose sight of what is, and isn’t, important.

Really, 8.1 million Euros isn’t a lot, given the history and gravitas the Eleftherotypia brings with it.

Especially when that sum will cover most of the compensation which 800 former employees are entitled to but have yet to receive—even though it’s been 12 years now since the newspaper closed.

And we’re talking about some of the most competent people in the Greek Press—people who put their backs into making Eleftherotypia such an outstanding newspaper but were hung out to dry.

Which is why it is so important that Vangelis Marinakis and Alter Ego Media have acquired the titles of Eleftherotypia.

Just as it was important that, a few years ago, they ensured that historic titles including TO BHMA (102 years of history), TA NEA (93 years) and in.gr (24 years) could embark on a new chapter, or that the Oikonomikos Tachydromos could be brought back to life as ot.gr, or Mega Channel broadcast again.

And making it possible for Eleftherotypia to jeep on making history and shape the future, to defend freedom and progress, is very important, too.

Because democracy in our country requires the existence of a media rooted in independent journalism, in taking a combative stance to power, in safeguarding and defending pluralism.

But also because democracy in our country requires that there be a progressive and democratic space once again that can represent and embody society’s need for change, democracy and justice.

And this requires more than the right political formations. We also need a media that can re-educate and re-orientate public opinion; that can mold a public capable of thinking critically and understanding what’s at stake, and of making choices based on knowledge not propaganda. Media to create the conditions that will allow society to debate and exchange views and opinions once again. And, in so doing, to reclaim the future it deserves.

Eleftherotypia was part of a genuine democratic transition in Greece.

Today, in a new landscape of global polarization, of the European dream in crisis, of democracy undermined on multiple fronts, of new forms of arbitrariness and arrogance on the part of power and the erosion of the Rule of Law, we need the return of both genuine freedom of the Press and quality democracy.

We need the Eleftherotypia back again.