Public images and private lives: The Greek experience

The media landscape in Greece has witnessed radical changes over the course of the last decade. Broadcasting deregulation has led to a dramatic transformation of the media sector, which is now characterised by a chaotic situation in broadcasting services and a highly partisan press. The absence of a regulatory framework practically means that the media, and especially broadcasting, operate without the enforcement of any law, or code of practice, regarding content regulation. The coverage of political issues follows no rule and, hence, the classical distinction between the private and the public lives of politicians is no longer maintained; indeed, there is a shift towards greater presentation of the image of politicians. This article argues that until a regulatory framework is enforced, issues concerning privacy, and the coverage of political issues are in the hands of the 'logic' of the media owner and/or the journalist covering the issue.