REPORTS
Bias and misinformation on ERT, the public service broadcaster, in favor of a government bill
On January 30, ERT aired a news bulletin featuring high ranking members of DAP. DAP is a student group linked to the New Democracy party, but ERT failed to disclose these political affiliations, portraying them as politically unaffiliated students.
In their televised appearance, the DAP members were presented as independent students who were in favor of the bill proposed by the Minister of Education, Niki Kerameus, for the establishment of a university police force.
Giannis Papadimitriou being interviewed on ERT, where his role as DAP Secretary was not mentioned
Giannis Papadimitriou pictured as part of the secretariat at the offices of the student organization DAP which is linked to New Democracy
A few days later, on February 11, ERT again presented a DAP member as an independent student, who was again in favor of a bill proposed by Ms. Kerameus. On this occasion it was a graduate student at the Department of Business Administration, Alexandros Moschos, who is a member of DAP and in fact secretary of the group in Thessaloniki.
Alexandros Moschos being interviewed on ERT where his membership of DAP was not disclosed
Screenshot from Alexandros Moschos’ profile on Facebook where he describes himself as “head of DAP-NDFK Thessaloniki”
ERT’s General Information Director, Fotis Kafarakis, essentially admitted to these serious failures, and explained them as “omissions in the news ticker”.
In a state that adheres to the rule of law, where individual rights and freedom of the press are protected, the public broadcasting services and news agencies should operate without influence from the state and the government, and be able to pursue stories that are critical of the government as a check on the abuse of power.
The role of the public broadcasting services is not to promote the positions or policies of the government currently in power through inaccurate information or fake news.
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