« Peace Journalism and the role of the media in accelerating social progress: Studying the Greek Media’s coverage of the refugee crisis »

Vadouridou Despina

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for obtaining the degree of Master of Arts in “Risk Communication and Crisis Journalism”

Supervisor: Prof. Christos Fragkonikolopoulos

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki May 2017

Table of Contents

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..2 Part 1: Literature Review……………………………………………………………4 1.1.Traditional News Values and Declarations………………………………………...4 1.2.Peace Journalism Characteristics and Contributions…………………….………....7 1.3.Peace Journalism Discontents…………………………………………………….12 1.4.Objectivity Debate………………………………………………………………..14 1.5.Structural and other Constraints……….………………………………………….16 1.6.Media Influence and the Public…………………………………………………...19 Part 2: Refugee Crisis as covered by the Greek Media (Jan-Dec.2016)…………..21 2.1. Reporting Under Peace Journalism………………………………………………21 2.2. Reporting Under War Journalism………………………………………………...54

Part 3: Conclusions-Findings……………………………………………………….95 Bibliography………………………………………………………………………...99 Annex A: List of online media sources…………...………………………………....103 Annex B: Peace and War Journalism Photos………...……………………………...106

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Introduction Since the 2015 peak of the so-called refugee crisis in the European Union, people arriving in Greece from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have dominated news agenda on a daily basis. In particular, Greek TV channels have been reporting on live coverage from the Greek islands, the main point of entry from Turkey into the EU. Images of overpopulated, half-sank boats, with desperate people lying on the shores and helpless children entered, for the first time in history, the screens of Greeks households’ reality, accentuating the proximity of facts. Slowly but with a steady pace, selective representation of images of ‘them’ or ‘the others’ contributed to building stereotypes that, subsequently, further shaped both individual viewpoints and local policies towards refugees. In other words, selected modes of journalism produced a specific type of outcome, which might now be taken as given but, in hindsight, could well have been different in case a different reporting model, like peace journalism, had prevailed and been implemented. As widely known, mass media make a big impact in shaping the reality of audiences. What Peace Journalism reporters and editors focus on, in brief, is bringing into light the positive developments of a conflict or crisis and opting for a solutions-oriented approach. This paper, aims at assessing the way Greek news media reported on the refugee crisis, by analyzing whether online news stories during last year, namely the period from January until December 2016 fall under war or peace journalism paradigms. Starting from Ancient Greece and for more than two millenniums, Greek tradition has held the value of hospitality in very high regard. On the other hand, nowadays we often experience expressions of hostility against the ‘other’, especially when it is unknown to us, in this case refugees and migrants. Based on the said period’s articles analysis, the paper argues that war journalism, as the dominant journalistic approach in Greek media stories dealing with the refugee crisis, contributed to the phenomenon via breeding hostility and an ‘us versus them’ approach. This, of course, does not mean that peace journalism initiatives were absent. On the contrary, they did exist and are given equal consideration and space for this study’s purposes. However, the combination of limited coverage together with few incidents making it to mainstream media editor’s offices, meant their effect was a bit limited. Part One presents the theoretical framework or, in other words, existing theories, and gives a comprehensive insight of the literature in relation to journalistic approaches in general and Peace Journalism in particular. It highlights the potential relation between media representations and social behavior change. Part Two presents a selection of news stories, from January to December 2016, from a list of online media sources (analytical list in Annex A). Articles relevant to the refugee crisis were retrieved, selected, reviewed and briefly analyzed. News stories fall under either war journalism, adopting a conflict-oriented approach, focusing on violent instances, anger and frustration, or peace journalism, showing positive initiatives, developments in the country and solution-led paradigms. Part Three brings together the theoretical framework and article analysis, in order to draw conclusions. Concluding remarks revolve around the thesis that each approach focused on a different set of events and evoked different feelings towards

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‘them’. Even though, as mentioned, the study balanced the volume of war and peace journalism articles, in fact the former appeared in much more sources and most of the times were also main website articles. Up to an extent, this explains why it is mainly feelings of hostility, frustration and fear that have prevented in Greek households psyche with regard to refugee crisis.

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1. Theoretical Framework

1.1. Traditional News values and Declarations

Mass Media has a great influence worldwide; it has the power to set a state’s agenda (McCombs and Shaw, 1972), influence foreign policies (Robinson, 2001) but also alter public perception concerning foreign nations (Wanta et al., 2004) and the overall risk perception of individuals (Wahlberg, 2000). Nevertheless, if it was not for the media, people would have not been aware of what is happening on the other side of the globe and this is the main reason why the vast majority follows all types of media updates (paper, online, social media). It is through shared information that people’s perceptions about today’s realities are influenced and accordingly shaped. The influence media can exert also extends to high level decision-makers, in the fields of politics and international affairs. Former UN Secretary General Boutros-Boutros Ghali, after the end of the first Gulf War, stated that: “We say we have 16 members in the Security Council: the 15 members plus CNN.” (Boutros-Ghali, 1995), referring to the so-called ‘CNN effect’. The latter phenomenon is analyzed in detail by Gilboa, who states that media networks seem to nowadays have the capacity to exert influence both on policies leading to specific events as well as their outcomes interpretation (Gilboa, 2005). Empirical research is yet to confirm such hypotheses, but media power is nowadays more than evident. Scholars, academics but also professionals have engaged in debates, defending or attacking the thesis on media contribution in society’s development and, in general, peace. The idea of information as peace inducing is “pervasive, institutionalized, and integral to the broader freedom of expression meta-narrative at the core of modern norms guiding the regulation of information” (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.2). At least theoretically, information contributes in the overall reducing of misunderstandings while decreasing the reaction to non-aggressive measures. It can also help in enhancing trust among international partners. Additionally, by exposing the scale of brutality during events or periods of conflict it sparks international pressure and rallies support for victims (Ibid., p.3). There are several, internationally renowned, documents guiding information policies, norms and professional journalistic standards. For instance, the very basic Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) states that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” (Art.19, UDHR). Moreover, according to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice”; while it continues by declaring “the exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection

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of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals” (Art.19, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights). There are also more specific normative documents, stressing the ‘correct’ media role and function. One of them is the 1978 UNESCO Mass Media Declaration. Article 3 specifies that: 1. “The Mass media have an important contribution to make to the strengthening of peace and international understanding and in countering racialism, apartheid and incitement to war. 2. In countering aggressive war, racialism, apartheid and other violations of human rights which are inter-alia spawned by prejudice and ignorance, the mass media, by disseminating information on the aims, aspiration, cultures and needs of all peoples, contribute to eliminate ignorance and misunderstanding between peoples, to make nationals of a country sensitive to the needs and desires of others, to ensure the respect of the rights and dignity of all nations, all peoples and all individuals without distinction of race, sex, language, religion or nationality and to draw attention to the great evils which afflict humanity, such as poverty, malnutrition and diseases, thereby promoting the formulation by States of the policies best able to promote the reduction of international tension and the peaceful and equitable settlement of international disputes” (UNESCO, 1979, 102). Additional documents with plethora of ‘how to’ norms and principles regarding the role of mass media in general as well as that of journalists in particular can be found in:  International Principles of Professional Ethics in Journalism  Belarus Code of Professional Ethics of Journalist  Hutchins Commission (1947) setting the requirement for journalists to keep an eye on the “public interest” or the “greater good” of society, whatever it may be. (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.167) As we saw, media conventions and declarations provide the context under which the profession should be functioning. However, it remains to be answered: what is it that makes a news story good for publishing? The answer there is a set of newsworthiness factors. Traditional ‘news values’, classifying what audience is or should be interested in are the following (Stovall, 2008, p. 77- 79): 1. Impact (focus on mass event consequences; pieces of news referring to actions or events affecting large numbers of people) 2. Timeliness (concerns events that took place within a 24-hour timeframe) 3. Prominence (whether influential people, of high stature, so-called public life figures, are involved in the news stories) 4. Proximity (concerns events taking place close to us, in our country/city/neighborhood) 5. Conflict (as it attracts people and news media attention mainly because of the ‘drama’ factor) 6. Bizarre/Unusual (namely something the audience is not used to; a rare event) 7. Currency (concerns issues of current interest)

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These internationally acknowledged, traditional news values are supposed to structure stories in a way in which most relevant, attractive and interesting information reaches and is presented to the public. In other words, for a news story to include all necessary information it needs to answer six basic questions: who, what, where, when, why and how (Ibid., p. 79-80; Lynch, 2007b, p.8). The aforementioned criteria seem to be well-founded and established in contemporary media world. However, they also undergo a lot of criticism; stressing the importance, for news agencies, of factors such as prominence and personification, both Lynch and Bennett argue that they lead to ‘indexing’ of newsworthiness “to the extent of elite discord” (Bennett, 1990). Elite orientation means leaders and sovereign politics- related issues are given preferential treatment, something then translated into an “inbuilt bias towards force as a response to conflict” (Lynch, 2011, p.298), while, for instance, Peace Journalism (PJ) adopts an people-oriented paradigm. As mentioned above, conflict tends to attract interest and media coverage. Five key elements of newsworthiness when covering conflicts or crises are identified by Galtung and Ruge (1965): threshold (an event’s mass impact); frequency (the sudden events parameter, especially when this is in agreement with a news agency’s pre-determined agenda); negativity (bad news as ‘serious’ news we all should be informed about); unexpectedness (bizarre/unusual events, attracting people’s curiosity and exciting their imagination) and unambiguity (simple answers to complex questions or issues). When we talk about reporting ‘conflict dynamics’, the journalist is supposed to cover “its history, recent causes and internal composition– the different parties, the nature of their involvement, their perspectives, positions and motivations, and the different relationships between them in terms of power, allegiance and interest” (Francis, 2002, p 28).

Current conflict coverage is also criticized by many scholars. Shinar (2007) puts in contention the following media preference factors for:

1. Violence, sensationalism, personalization, patriotism and exclusion-inclusion biases toward certain countries, groups, and persons (Lynch, 2007; Neiger and Zandberg, 2004; Roeh and Ashley, 1986; Shinar, 2003; Zandberg and Neiger, 2005). 2. Simple descriptions rather than analyses of complex conflict origins, causes, and contexts (Lynch, 2007; Roeh & Ashley, 1986); 3. Fighting parties rather than broader human and other conflict dimensions (McGoldrick and Lynch 2005; Peleg, 2006, 2002); 4. Coverage of conflict only when manifest violence occurs or is about to occur (Hanitzsch, 2004a, b); 5. “Sports-like”, “us-versus-them” situations that seek visible events and results, damage and victims, winners and losers, rather than longer processes of conflict resolution or transformation (Shinar, 2003; Wolfsfeld, 2004); 6. The relatively lower news value of peace-related stories and topics (Shinar, 2003).” (in Shinar, 2007).

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Thus, mass media should take into consideration the legal framework and internationally agreed code of conduct by trade unions, media institutions and international or local law. Traditional news elements, setting the framework for stories newsworthiness are also not to be neglected. However, some scholars argue that media also has the political obligation to participate and stand up for peace; “The legal and ethical norms whereby mass media have to serve peace and never the opposite are older than is generally acknowledged and more or less universally valid” (Becker, 2004, p.4). According to this stream of thought, journalists are responsible for the way a story is reported in news media, creating “opportunities for society at large to consider while adding value to non-violent responses to conflict” (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005). Kempf argues that this opportunity-making obligation that reporters have, results directly from the role of journalists in democratic societies (Kempf, 2007). He also adds that without responsibility, good journalism is inconceivable and that responsibility is something inherent to what is called Peace Journalism. The latter is based on normative theory principles, as it requires “journalists to act on certain obligations” (Irvan, 2006).

1.2. Peace Journalism: Characteristics and Contributions Not all types of journalism are traditional news values-oriented; on the contrary, there is a stream of news reporting that neither follows the mainstream path nor aims at creating sensational headlines due to conflict-led news stories or inflammatory general public statements; such a journalism is believed to be Peace Journalism – from now on referred as PJ. Prior to analyzing PJ, its components and comparison with journalism in general, it is necessary to firstly discuss about basic concepts such as conflict, violence and peace. Conflict is likely to arise in circumstances of scarce basic resources, like shelter, food and water. Conflict can also emerge when communication between parties is poor or non-existent and when perceptions about each other are either biased or incorrect. Unresolved grievances, lack of trust and uneven distribution of power are also factors that may lead to a conflict outbreak (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005, p.7). Still, if we think of an only two-sided conflict, then we would also expect just two possible outcomes: victory of one party and defeat of the other (Ibid.) This is the infamous zero sum conflict paradigm, which however is not valid under all types of conditions. Often, there’s more than two openly acknowledged sides that a reporter and consequently the public need to consider, despite the fact that some of them might be well hiding their involvement or vested interests. In many respects, conflict can be perceived as a linear escalation and de-escalation of violence. However, a more comprehensive explanation is proposed by the situation – attitude – behavior triangle (Mitchell, 1981) or the ABC (Attitude – Behavior - Contradiction) triangle (Galtung, 1969). The component of Attitude refers to people’s beliefs, will and emotions -as fear, anger, bitterness, hatred. Behavior refers to either conciliation (best case scenario) or hostility (worst case scenario), which results in violence. Finally, the factor of Contradiction is about the underlying situation of

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incompatible party goals. In other words, this is the factor we need to analyze in order to get the context. Conflict and violence, however, are two different notions. Violence can be a response to conflict; yet, the more alternatives available the less likely a violent episode is to occur (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005, p.7). So, what does violence really constitute of? Lynch and McGoldrick consider both visible and invisible aspects of it. The more obvious is the visible one, when direct violence is exerted by individuals or a group that intends to kill, hurt or cause physical damage to someone. Verbal violence is also a direct form of violence; humiliation or put downs are some additional forms. On the other hand, there is invisible violence, which can be either cultural or structural. Cultural violence refers to the prevailing attitudes and inbuilt beliefs that individuals have been taught since childhood and that surround people in their daily life, glorifying the use of power and violence (e.g. hate speech, xenophobia, religious wars, civilization arrogance etc.) whereas structural violence is when some groups, classes, nationalities have access to more resources, goods and opportunities in contrast to others (e.g. material inequality, apartheid, institutionalized racism etc.). Direct violence is thought to be caused by the invisible cultural and structural violence. In other words the aforementioned forms of violence are the roots of a conflict, which Lynch considers to be made up of structure, culture and process (Lynch, 2007, p. 9). In contrast, peace is a combination of non-violence and creativity. In fact, non- violence entails more than just not being violent; it is the manifestation of positive, non- violence, speech and action together with creative development of new ideas. The way a conflict and especially violence is presented in the media has a profound impact in determining people’s reactions. News media has a potent role, a heavy responsibility, in furthering tensions (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.6) as “they prepare, consciously or unconsciously, the premises for a dramatic choice.” (Galtung, 2006, p. 4). “News is a factor in the sequence of cause and effect” (Lynch 2003), so ‘just reporting the facts’ without taking any sort of responsibility, not only can be circumventing but also deeply damaging. Objectivity in the sense of neutrality, non-involvement and unfeeling depiction of reality may “produce a superficial, surface narrative” but can also be an impossible demand (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005, p.23). In other words, proclaiming to be objective could by itself well be a narrative instead of reality. PJ scholars and advocates state that if peace initiatives are made visible, prevention of violence and therapy from trauma will be brought into focus. Also, if a lives comparison is made, then conflicts would much more be understood. This means conflict could somehow be counterbalanced by PJ initiatives.

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The following table (Diagram 1), proposed by Galtung, summarizes the distinction between War and Peace Journalism.

(Diagram 1)

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Peace Journalism offers both “an ethos and a methodology” (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2004, p.1). PJ manifests itself whenever “editors and reporters make choices – about what stories to report, and how to report them” (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005, p.5) and it promises to contribute in the strengthening of human, moral and ethical values in media, professional improvement, public sphere and the widening of scholarly and professional media horizons (Shinar, 2007, p. 2-3). Yet, the accuracy degree of a story comes from the effort of journalists on all sides to focus on the effects of conflicting issues on human needs (Lynch, 2007b, p.9). Kempf considers PJ to be “responsible journalism” (Kempf, 2007, p. 3) that can be translated into the ‘good’ kind of journalism; something between constructive conflict coverage and advocacy journalism (Ibid., p. 1). According to him, it seems to be the type of journalism that “open[s] the public’s eyes to a detached standpoint and to deconstruct the polarization of the conflict parties.” (Kempf, 2007, p.7). The responsibility of peace journalism is also accentuated in the normative premise arguing that if media can play a negative role, increasing tensions and turning them into violent responses it may also as well function in a different way: promoting peace and reconciliation (Irvan, 2006, p.2). Normative theory argues that a journalist, in his professional capacity, has to think about what to do, how to do it and why to do it (Ibid.) Therefore, peace journalists look at how they could be “part of the solution rather than part of the problem” (McGoldrick, 2000, p.19-20). PJ reporting is thought to follow the critical realist theory and is described by Wright as “a way of describing the process of ‘knowing’ that acknowledges the reality of the thing known, as something other than the knower (hence ‘realism’), while fully acknowledging that the only access we have to this reality lies along the spiraling path of appropriate dialogue or conversation between the knower and the thing known (hence ‘critical’)” (Wright, 1996, p. 35-36). In other words, PJ with its inscribed Feedback Loop model, reconnects the critical with the real, acting thus as the intermediate party through which reality is understood; PJ adopts a critical stance over events while explaining the reason behind a behavior. Many would argue that providing a convincing explanation to the cause and effect may be enough. However, there are proofs that the public is not attracted by simplistic justifications of complex events and particularly crises. Being a value-explicit reform program but also an evaluative criterion for content analysis, PJ reporters, in practice, choose to deeply analyze a conflict by reporting all parties, goals, needs and interests involved as well as opportunities that may arise. Furthermore, they opt out of the Manichean power model, adopting the multiparty conflict one and reporting on all voices, besides the usual, ‘official sources’ (Lynch, 2007, p.2). Up to this point, we have examined the notions of conflict, violence, peace and analyzed some aspects of the PJ paradigm. PJ principles and functions will become clearer when comparing them to the mainstream journalism ones. A key characteristic of the latter is linearity. Should we imagine its respective ABC triangle, the 'C' (contradictions) side of it, giving the context leading to division among different parties, would be often missed out and reports would concentrate on attitude and behavior. PJ

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“restores the missing points of the triangles to offer us some insights into how things come to be the way they are” (Lynch, 2007b, p.12). Mainstream journalism might claim to not be associated with propaganda, but more often than so attempts to ‘spread the news’ via advertising techniques methods: “Advertisers associate their product, service or brand with certain images, ideas or values – then the message is repeated often enough for the rest of us to make the association for ourselves” (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005, p. 109). Taking advantage of the fact that "reporters live in a social context and share a language and certain assumptions with their audience" (Loyn, 2007, p. 4), "propaganda sets out precisely to penetrate and transform shared language and assumptions" (Lynch, 2007, p. 3). This is not to say that PJ is the only type of ‘good’ journalism. On the contrary, “if peace journalism is understood the right way, it is not an antipode of good journalism but its necessary prerequisite” (Kempf, 2007, p.). In other words, PJ understands itself as "a normative mode of responsible and conscientious media coverage of conflict that aims at contributing to peacemaking, peacekeeping, and changing the attitudes of media owners, advertisers, professionals, and audiences towards war and peace" (Shinar, 2007, p. 2). Mainstream journalism is all about ‘Who is the aggressor’, or ‘How can he be stopped’. PJ, on the other hand, is guided by questions like ‘What is the problem?’ and ‘How can it be resolved?’. This way, PJ broadens our perspective and knowledge about a conflict’s several aspects, opening it up to better understanding as well as peaceful alternatives. The role news media can play in furthering tensions, especially in times of conflict, is discussed in great detail in PJ literature, with several authors arguing that journalists should shift their approach to covering conflict-oriented news (see, for example, Galtung and Fischer, 2013; Lacasse and Forster, 2012; Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005; Ottosen, 2010; Ozohu-Suleiman, 2014; Powers and el-Nawawy, 2009). Writing about PJ, Kempf makes the distinction between two different stages of reporting. At first, we need to escape the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ or to find a way out of mutual destruction. In order to do this during this initial stage, the role of PJ reporters would be to focus on deconstructing conflict polarization or “opening public’s eyes to a detached standpoint” (Kempf, 2007, p. 7). It is only during the second stage that solution-oriented reporting could be utilized. Here the focus would be construction: getting the opponents together and searching for ways to overcome their differences. As Lynch and McGoldrick describe it, “The remedy for a problem, in conflict as in medicine, depends on diagnosis” (Lynch and McGoldrick, 2005a, p. 20). And as Lynch would add, “If journalists on either side had paid more attention to conflict issues and their effect on human needs, their reporting would have been more accurate” (Lynch, 2007, p. 9). It is precisely those two elements that could help us understand both differences between mainstream and PJ, but also the model and principles on which PJ functions.

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1.3. Peace Journalism Discontents Contrary to advocates, there are also scholars who criticize PJ. In the following section, PJ discontents are categorized according to: (i) the role of a journalist -in terms of what and how news should be reported; (ii) institutional and market constrains; (iii) traditional values such as fairness, objectivity and balance and finally (iv) other relevant key factors and characteristics.

Journalists’ role The role of a journalist, for PJ discontents, is to just report facts as such, without inferring or interpreting them. Loyn argues that a distinction should be made between the function of reporting and that of peacemaking, as peacemaking is simply not the journalist’s role (Loyn, 2007). Similarly, it is pointed that it is not the journalist’s duty to mediate between conflict parties. This means that reporters are not accountable for neither negotiating with the opponents nor moderating their disputes (Kempf & Jaeger, 2005, in Kempf, 2007, p.4). Reporters are believed to be on the wrong side of the fence when they give “undue prominence to passing peace plans, or search for peacemakers” (Loyn, 2007, p. 3). Wolfsfeld, in particular, refers to peace as a complicated process that comes in contrast with the journalistic demand for simplicity. That is to say “A peace process takes time to unfold and develop; journalists demand immediate results. Most of a peace process is marked by dull, tedious negotiations; journalists require drama. A successful peace process leads to a reduction in tensions; journalists focus on conflict. Many of the significant developments within a peace process must take place in secret behind closed doors; journalists demand information and action” (Wolfsfeld, 1997, p. 67). Most of the times, peace process comes with needs incompatible with journalistic imperatives, as the latter demands immediate results in contrast to the long time that a peace process needs to unfold. (Wolfsfeld, 1997). For Hanitzsch, a journalist’s burden is different from that of resolving critical worlds’ issues; in his terms “it cannot be the primary task of journalism to free the world from crises, conflicts and other evils since it is the task of other social systems such as politics, law or the military” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.172). Despite the fact that he agrees with journalists going beyond the visible manifestations of violence and at the same time disclosing the real causes and background information of a conflict, Hanitzsch still endorses the argument that what PJ aspires to do is too heavy a burden to carry, as PJ advocates “tend to hold journalism responsible for virtually everything that goes wrong with culture and society” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.168). He understands PJ culture to “divert political responsibilities from politicians and policy makers to journalists” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.172) but, according to him, this is not journalism’s role. Based on the above rationale, Hanitzsch reaches the conclusion of peace culture as a precondition for peace journalism practice. He also argues it would have been more appropriate to call PJ “Peace PR”, in order for it to depict public communication as a means to resolve a conflict (Ibid, p.172). What journalists are urged to do, according to Hanitzsch, is report whatever is happening – regardless of the sense it makes on the

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general public. The assumption here is that if controversies are not covered by reporters, other communicators with less impartial aims will step in (like politicians, PR staff, military spokespersons, demagogues and other fanatics) (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.171). It is a mistaken hypothesis, as Loyn points out, when peace journalists claim having the capacity to fulfil the one task of finding out what is going on without carrying any baggage or engagement (Loyn, 2003). Consequently, it follows that the role of a journalist should only be limited in reporting facts as such and refraining from any kind of peacemaking role. For this school of thought, ‘simplicity’ is the key word for reporting on stories and events.

Institutional and Market Constraints Institutional pressures are inevitable for every member of the society, journalists included. Actually, being a journalist entails the same market-imposed, social- psychological pressure mechanism as for any other person in the modern world. Nevertheless, considering journalists’ potential direct involvement in escalating violence, the demand to remain neutral is even harder to achieve. Reporting is thus subject to interdependent relations and peace journalists have been criticized for their attempt of media reform by adopting ‘an overly individualistic and voluntaristic perspective’ (Hanitzsch 2007, p.5). – in Lynch, 2011. Hanitzsch himself suggests more quality in journalism instead of imposing a new kind of journalism on news people-the latter being what PJ attempts to do.

Fairness, Objectivity and Balance Moving to the ethical dimension, dissidents also blame PJ for being “unavoidably normative” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.9). Hanitzsch argues that PJ and journalism of attachment are basically similar, both of them manifesting ‘political propaganda’ characteristics. For him, journalism is different than other public communication areas, such as Public Relations, Advertising and Entertainment, due to differences in critical elements. The elements that are taken into account to distinguish the four types of public communication (Diagram 2) are: 1) primary information values, namely fact versus fiction, 2) intended effects, meaning change of attitudes and behaviors and 3) whether the message comes from the inside or the outside of an organization. Based on these criteria, Hanitzsch argues that PJ moves towards the Public Relations side of the Cartesian diagram and away from journalism. This is not a problem as such, but it is an issue that “this sort of public communication is treated as if it is journalism – by the audiences, by academics and the journalists themselves (Hanitzsch, 2004, p. 163).

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(Diagram 2)

Other Factors Critics also point out towards potential issues with regard to PJ “understat[ing] the impact of interpersonal communication” (Hanitzsch 2004b: 487), by assuming a linear and causal media effect. In other words, by emphasizing the importance and potential change agent role a journalist might or should take on, PJ tends to equate individuals with ‘mass’ audience, depriving the analysis from any distinct characteristics that might have been found if those individuals were put in the center of analysis. In addition, and stemming from the aforementioned characteristic, PJ assumes a cause and effect relation between a journalist’s contribution and the outcome on a societal level, which might as well be a fallacious assumption, underestimating aggregated individual characteristics as well as their propensity for change as an ‘effect’ to PJ ‘causal’ intervention. Not to mention, there is a second assumption here: peace journalists are, somehow automatically, assumed to be orienting themselves towards the overall public interest. However, according to Hanitzsch, more than often even peace journalists “adjust their ‘responsibilities’ to the interests of their specific audiences” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.167).

1.4. Objectivity Debates The beauty of journalism is it can offer to the audience true, distanced representation of reality. Consequently, objectivity is one of the most important values when discussing about good journalism. However, it is one thing to frame objectivity as a theoretical concept and another thing to operate with objectivity as part of one’s daily duties. This notion, therefore, causes a lot of confusion to media practitioners (Kovach and Rosenstiel, 2007).

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The existence of journalistic objectivity mostly translates to an “independent, universalizing stance” of a “prudent, rational, fair-minded individual, committed to individual rights, political democracy, a market economy, and progress through science and education” (Hackett and Zhao 1998, p. 18). For Rosen it equals fairness, the restraining ethic biases and the idea that “journalism can’t be the voice of any particular party or sect” (from an interview with Rosen, J., - professor and director at New York University, 1994 in McGoldrick, 2006). In overall, it is an “effort to report the facts without developing – or at least without revealing – an opinion about them” (Kinsley, 2001), since mixing opinion with news is considered problematic (Eilders, 1997, p.2). Kempf argues there are three kinds of reality. The first two are one party’s and an opponent’s subjective reality, while there is also the reality of a third actor that can be assessed only by adopting an external viewpoint. The latter shows how the two subjective realities interact with each other (Kempf, 2007, p.5). According to the liberal theory of press freedom, journalists face the following dilemma when covering conflicts: they can either take sides inciting, in consequence, one party against the other, or they can play a change agent role in moderating disputes in order to improve communication for constructive conflict transformation (Kempf 2003, p. 83). For Lynch and McGoldrick (2005a, p. 209), there are three conventions of ‘objective’ mainstream reporting, all focusing on violent and reactive responses – thus pro war journalism- at the expense of non-violent, developmental ones. In particular, there are: i) bias in favor of official sources, ii) bias in favor of event over process and iii) bias in favor of ‘dualism’ in reporting conflicts. Official sources are often being held in high regard when it comes to newsworthiness and factuality. Behind those official voices, however, hide “bureaucratic institutions with designated spokespeople and prescheduled routines” who provide “credible claims and background information for Objective reporting” (Hackett and Zhao 1998, p. 78). It is true that television news channels, radio news broadcasting, newspaper or website stories are all full of country political leader’s deeds and statements. The process, in other words the ‘why’ part of the six fundamental questions (‘Who did What, When, Where, How and Why’) is rarely given the importance it should. Events background stories are often omitted or only lightly touched upon. Needless to say, as McGoldrick points out, two parties’ opposing coverage seldom, if ever, gives us the whole picture (McGoldrick, 2006, p.4). In addition, if the statement that “[m]ainstream Journalism is represented by professional norms and uses certain techniques of news-gathering and construction. A mainstream journalist tries to be objective, remains distant from her or his subject, finds information in official places, and presents that information in particular ways” (Hindman, 1998, p.177) is taken into consideration, one can understand the struggle a journalist makes in order to be objective, given his job’s own nature. Powers and O’Loughlin highlight the inseparability of public information and political strategies and tactics, aiming at managing perceptions and invoking sentiments of hope, glory, injustice and pain (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.3). Information is being distributed over particular purposes as “[t]hey wish to assign blame and, through images and rhetoric, present a distribution of pain and suffering that warrants their

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actions.”(Ibid., p.5). In short, if the same attention is not addressed on the same issues by news agencies, then common ground for dialogue will cease to exist (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.6). As a consequence, information will only be accessed by one community or will be framed differently according to its recipients. So, can objectivity and news reporting go hand in hand? As Hanitzsch puts it, the choices reporters and editors face are endless (Hanitzsch, 2004, p. 156), adding that “The media by nature cannot provide an “objective” representation of reality that is objective in the sense of being identical with the reality.” (Ibid., p. 167). After all, news is a representation of the world, not reality’s mirror, and as any representation it is based on selectivity (Schudson, 2003, p.33). A journalist, as all humans, can project one reality as being true and this is his own reality. However, it is not to be forgotten that there are numerous other realities that could be taken into account. On the other hand, even justifiable biases don’t justify abandoning all skepticism.

1.5. Structural and Other Constraints The job of a journalist is not an easy to accomplish task. Structural constraints news agencies are facing have been in depth analyzed by a large number of intellectuals, scholars and practitioners. The broad number of parameters to take into account range from general restrictions imposed by the market, media structure itself and leaders (Shinar, 2007) to more specific ones such as limited personnel, material resources, textual constraints, availability of sources, access to information (Hanitzsch, 2004) as well as the constant time pressure, lack of space, limited budget, censorship, editor’s expectations but also the public’s needs (Kempf, 2007). Shinar lists down leaders as one of the factors affecting and setting constraints in journalists’ correspondence. In fact, however, it can go a bit further than that; powerful personalities, either political leaders or socio-economic sphere elites are exerting concealed influence to news agencies in order for them to accommodate or promote particular agendas.

State and Power Constraints Images we have about our world are widely constructed by a mediated environment, ruled by “government media monopolies or commercial media oligopolies” (Shinar, 2007, p.4). As a matter of fact, media sources are believed to present their own version of news, predisposed towards a state’s own agenda with the purpose of influencing their target audience (Herman and Chomsky 2002; Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015; Shinar, 2007). The proposed by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky ‘propaganda model’ further narrows down state influence, suggesting that news should be seen as “inculcating and defending the economic, social and political agenda of privileged groups that dominate the domestic society and the state” (Herman & Chomsky 2002, p.298). According to their theory, news organizations should anticipate trouble in their reporting every time powerful interests are at stake (Herman & Chomsky 2002, p.27). Hence, the

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propaganda model reminds us of what a ‘crucial tool’ mainstream media is for “legitimizing the ideas of the most powerful social actors and for securing consent for their actions” (Freedman, 2009, p.59). As Foucault puts it “Power is not an institution, and not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with; it is the name that one attribute to a complex strategic situation in a particular society” (Foucault, 1977, p.93). A global kind of domination can be found in all forms of cultural production, including journalism, and it can take many forms within a society. In other words, when discussing about state constraints on journalistic work we need to keep in mind we are basically examining the impact of complex strategic situations that set direct or indirect limits to what and how can be presented.

Ethnocentrism Constraints Shinar suggests that the current news selection single structure is sacrificing “pluralism of media content, form, and structures at the local, national, and global levels” (Shinar, 2007, p.4) impeding the reflection of contemporary world’s diversity and complexity. Lynch also points out that broadcast news content is governed by national public service agreements (Lynch, 2011, p. 11) while Wolfsfeld goes further by claiming that “the greater the influence of commercialism on news content, the less likely that the media can serve as serious and responsible forums for public debate” (2004, p. 39). Indeed, contemporary stories representation and interpretation leaves little to democratic reflexivity and critical thinking as national news agencies aspire to form a unified and homogeneous opinion among a given state’s citizens. For instance, recent refugee crisis representation by Greek news media has been framed in a way that favors homogeneity of opinions over pluralism. More than often, detailed background reportages are missing, while a dramatic and emotional stance over the ongoing process is frequently the selected approach. Additionally, there is more to consider in human relations than power; there is also human needs (Burton, 1998; McGoldrick, 2006). Talking about human needs, reporters have to delve from basic –food, water, shelter– needs, into more intangible elements such as identity, recognition and respect – all of them of major importance for comprehensive background research. Yet, it is also important to concentrate in the “the exceptions, when the ‘default’ position [of support for elite agendas] breaks down, precisely because, as someone who is committed to the transformation and democratization of the existing media, they provide such important lessons” (Freedman 2009, p.62).

Media Structure Constraints As discussed earlier, the availability of sources, personnel, time and material resources, editorial procedures and hierarchies but also access to information are crucial factors when it comes to news stories reporting. As a result, not all information is

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created and treated equally; there are ranges of accuracy, context and validity that are often overlooked in the final presentation of information. Notwithstanding today’s information abundance “the likelihood of sustained quality control and scrutiny” (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p. 6) decreases. News agencies struggle to manage the ‘obese data’ influx of the digitalized world and many stories go either under-reported, un-reported or even unnoticed by the public. This is truly a paradox, since especially nowadays there is plenty of information regarding conflict or daily news situations. However, this information is so diverse, scattered and sometimes hard to spot that forces specialists to either focus on what they consider to be of relevance or turn to computer software and statistics for their background research.

PJ Approach Constraints In order to explain Peace Journalism’s lack of popularity, one has to seek the obstacles reporters face with regards to its main characteristics. To begin with, the so frequently-cited journalistic value of objectivity along with its set of convention bias privilege official sources over public voices, dualistic construction of stories and events over process (McGoldrick, 2006, p.1). All of the aforementioned are characteristics not coinciding with PJ practice. Furthermore, given the “default mode of operation for the press […] to cover tension, conflict and violence” (Wolfsfeld, 2004, p. 156), the application of PJ is made impossible if the immediate, drama-search, simplicity and ethnocentrism news values are to be followed. Wolfsfeld concludes that “Based on competition, high news value and ratings, the current economic structures of the media entail a preference for war” (2004, p. 2). A relevant observation was made regarding the strained Greece-Turkey relations. According to Ozgunes and Terzis “Greek and Turkish journalists admitted that ‘everyday fear of losing our ratings and consequently our jobs’ is one of the most prominent impacts of the commercialization of the broadcast media, and is also ‘one of the main reasons why the Greek-Turkish conflict is reported in such a nationalistic and superficial way” (Ozgunes and Terzis, 2000, p. 410). Such an analysis sheds more light to the constraints under discussion, by stressing out the influence such factors exert in everyday journalistic work. In a way, such constraints help bring into life a self-fueled propensity for conflict: journalists need to adopt popular, conflictual approaches; reproduction of such approaches makes them even more prominent and even mainstream; the latter makes it even more difficult for both individuals or journalists to challenge them. Irvan treats the ethnocentric view of media world as an ideological obstacle (Irvan, 2006, p. 35) and Wolfsfeld interprets it a wrong assumption by the editors to think that “the public has very little interest in learning about the life and society of enemies” (Wolfsfeld, 2004, p.22). The point made at this stage is that news media are dominated by a nationalistic and often Manicheistic narratives, opposing ‘us’, namely the good guys, against ‘them’; the strangers for which little is known, namely the bad guys. Lack of information about the distant ‘other’ further contributes to their dehumanization and

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demonization. Their point of view seems completely irrational and based on maximalistic approaches. Hence, it becomes easier for ‘us’ to hate and perpetuate conflict with ‘them’. And, as Wolfsfeld notes, “this ethnocentrism becomes especially blatant in times of crisis” (Ibid., p. 23). Additionally, we need to bear in mind that “not every message distributed by the media has been produced by journalism” (Hanitzsch, 2004, p.169). This means that media often presents and reproduces material originating from various fields other than journalism, such as public relations or advertising. This does not necessarily mean that such fields are to blame, but rather that we should be more cautious regarding what we frame as journalism and challenge each field’s assumptions and approach.

1.6. Media Influence and the Public Several studies analyzing public preferences towards media content showed a contradiction in regards to what it was most likely assumed: audience and readers are less likely to opt for traditional news factors emphasizing simplification, drama and negative news (Kempf, 2007). Eilders found that the more the public is informed the less oriented towards traditional news factors it is (Eilders, 1997), whereas quality is an essential factor for evaluating media outlets (Wolling, 2002). Several experimental studies showed that readers find less attractive traditional, escalation-oriented conflict coverage compared to a de-escalation oriented PJ approach (Bläsi, Jaeger, Kempf & Spohrs, 2005; Jackson, 2006; Kempf, 2005, 2006b; Möckel, 2007; Schaefer, 2006; Sparr, 2004, Spohrs, 2006). As Kempf puts it “De-escalation oriented coverage is not only perceived by recipients as more balanced, it also awakens greater interest in further information” (Kempf, 2007, p.6). Media practitioners share the conviction that the mobilization of social resources thanks to news stories change-inciting contribution can lead to structural reforms (Lynch, 2007). As Lynch points out “journalists’ own self-awareness and efforts at reform can combine with mobilizations in civil society to challenge and supplement conventions; and that ideas from peace journalism, whether named as such or not, can help” (Lynch, 2007, p.2). In simple terms, the way a story is reported is highly dependent on journalists’ consciousness and their endeavor for change. Besides, media’s outlet framing not only determine public’s response but, in the long run, it can also guide towards a reform in society’s structure. The commonly held idea stating that more information consequently brings greater peace is, according to some scholars, unfounded (Gilboa, 2002; Morozov, 2011; Roselle, 2011; Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015). The above-mentioned concept of ‘information as peace inducing’ is in fact endemic to the political thought of the West, which does not necessarily translate into non-violence and peacemaking. According to Powers and O’Loughlin, it is applicable only in theory that greater access to accurate data can reduce the likelihood of conflict breaking out while the abundance of information during a conflict is “ineffectual at best” and for instance “in the case of Syria, potentially dangerous” (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.2). Still, there is a need for empirical research examining the relationship between access to information and

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international conflicts but also other actors’ role in information gathering. Indicatively, local services, people on the field and NGOs witness stories that news rarely captures as they do not comply with the dramatic and newsworthy violent events. Promoting positive news can, however, develop stronger feelings about productive engagement and actions, from donors and international diplomats but also citizens view (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.7).

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2. Refugee crisis as covered by the Greek news-media (Jan-Dec 2016) 2.1. Reporting under Peace Journalism As already discussed in the previous section, information contributes not only in preventing misunderstandings but also promoting non-violent responses via enhancing trust among parties; in this case among host (Greek citizens) and hosted (refugees) communities in Greece. However, information alone is not enough to trigger such responses. The way a story is reported classifies it in either the low or high road journalism. As discussed, in Greece there is no war, yet both models can be good directives measuring the way news are reported by the national media. According to Lynch and Galtung, the high road is the one of peace journalism and it focuses on conflict roots as well as its transformation (Lynch & Galtung, 2010, p. 2). Nevertheless, no matter which road a journalistic coverage will follow, truth is the supreme goal of news reporting that should never be sacrificed. According to PJ winning is not the thing; it is rather putting enough creativity to produce peace the essential change-making factor. The challenge is thus to go beyond the surface and to report what is not visible to the eye, making the world transparent and unveiling casual chains. After all, PJ is believe to be the kind of ‘serious, inquisitive, professional reporting, making conflict more transparent’ (Lynch & Galtung, 2010, p. 17). This part constitutes a qualitative analysis of Greek newspapers reporting during 2016. Online news stories of the aforementioned period were examined in order to identify the characteristics that make them fall under the high road journalism. A summary of each selected article will first be presented; then article’s elements will be examined and categorized according to Galtung’s Peace and War Journalism model.

January 2016 Lesvos: refugees turn life vests into handbags Kathimerini1, Ethnos2, Klik3 and Keep Talking Greece4 websites have covered an original initiative: refugees and volunteers from “Village of all together” at the former PIKPA camp on Lesvos Island launched a project to make handbags, totes, and messenger bags out of refugees’ life vests. Refugees got also creative with regards to covering their daily needs and protect themselves from the cold weather – the inner lifejacket material is used for staffing mattresses in the site where they live. As stated, this project has multiple objectives, starting from the environmental impact after

1 Nikolia Apostolou, ‘Refugees turn life vests into handbags on Lesvos’, Kathimerni, 8 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/204888/article/ekathimerini/community/refugees-turn-life- vests-into-handbags-on-lesvos 2 ‘They turn material from life-vests and rubber boats in useful items’, Ethnos,7 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/metatrepoun_ta_ylika_ton_sosibion_kai_ton_lembon_se_xristika _antikeimena-64312804/ 3 ‘Aida Simply, a refugee from Afghanistan transforms refugees lifejackets in handbags’, Klik, 2 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.klik.gr/gr/el/24-hours/o-aida-simply-prosfugas-apo-to-afganistan- metatrepei-ta-sosibia-ton-prosfugon-se-tsantes/ 4 ‘Lesvos: Refugees & volunteers turn life-jackets into original bags’, Keep talking Greece, 8 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2016/01/08/lesvos-refugees-volunteers-turn-life- jackets-into-original-bags/

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dividing, selecting and using a huge amount of waste, but also raising money to cover refugees living expenses via the items they sell. Additionally, this close collaboration between locals and the hosted community allows everyone to learn new skills while refugees retain a sense of dignity in their new lives. The way this story was covered is conflict-solution-oriented, showing how refugees, via collaboration with a volunteer group at the island of Lesvos, managed to organize a makeshift laboratory with a small production of useful daily items designated either for sale or personal use. Peaceful co-existence is presented as the result of non-violence and creativity. The publications bring at the forefront the names of those involved as well as their personal stories, but in a positive, full of empathy manner. Refugees are human beings like everyone and have the same fears and hopes for their lives; they want to create and to feel useful. The articles underline refugees wish to not become beggars, a characteristic mainstream media tends to attribute to them, and highlight their efforts to peacefully make change, without resorting to violence and creating problems.

ECHR to examine shooting of migrant farm workers in Manolada Newspaper such as Avgi, News247, Kathimerini and CNN Greece5, covered the legal case concerning abuses against migrant farm workers in Manolada. More specifically, it was reported that the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will examine the complaint of a group of 42 Banglandeshi workers against Greece, over the violation of Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibiting slavery and forced labor. The case, which concerns the shooting of migrant farm workers who were demanding unpaid wages by foremen at a strawberry farm in the southwestern Peloponnese town of Manolada in April 2013, will be examined after January 20. As Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) said “the appeal to the ECHR will hopefully mark a first step in the effort to restore legality and avert similar incidents in the future.” This is a story that exposes wrong-doings. And its impact is potentially huge, since it is about a country and not just an individual. It is the first forced labor case of such scale, unraveling Greek judiciary system’s malfunctioning when it comes to protecting migrants’ rights. Moreover, it challenges the premise that migrants who arrive in the country ‘steal our jobs’. Some of the newspapers mentioned that Greek authorities didn’t register all of the migrants as victims, due to some 7 of them being only lightly injured. Furthermore, unpaid wages were not considered part of the official forced labor accusation Athens

5 ‘ECHR to examine 2013 shooting of farm workers’, Kathimerini, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/204900/article/ekathimerini/news/echr-to-examine-2013--shooting-of- farm-workers , Zotou Eleni, ‘In the European Court of Human Rights the Manolada case’, Avgi, 10 Jan.2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6166612/sto-europaiko-dikastirio-anthropinon- dikaiomaton-i-upothesi-tis-manoladas , Anthi Koutsoubou ‘In ECHR the case of Manolada’, News247, 9 Jan,2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/sto-eyrwpaiko-dikasthrio-anthrwpinwn- dikaiwmatwn-h-ypothesh-ths-manwladas.3851296.html Adam Giannikos, ‘In the European Court of Human Rights the Manolada case’, CNN Greece, 8 Jan,2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/17896/sto-eyropaiko-dikastirio-dikaiomaton-toy- anthropoy-i-ellada-gia-ti-manolada

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General Police Department (GADA) filled (only the shooting incident was part of it). Articles’ detailed reference to the story and publicity given to the attempt to curb labor abuses promotes a sense of justice and fairness, important for conflict transformation.

The Press Project names Matina Katsiveli Person of the Year 2015 Recognizing that the refugee crisis was the biggest challenge of 2015, the Press Project named Matina Katsiveli from Leros island Person of the Year for being the force behind a dozen of initiatives to offer assistance and comfort to refugees reaching Greece. Despite the story’s sole reproduction by the Press Project6, it is in many ways a good PJ example. First of all, it highlights an individual peacemaker’s effort and gives her the opportunity to express her thoughts and feelings. Furthermore, the article describes in detail the nomination’s rationale, listing down concrete examples through her action and ‘pointing the finger’ to the EU’s dealing with the refugee crisis. It sets an inspiring example of strength and commitment to help refugees, despite adversities and opposition from the local authorities. At the same time, it brings to the spotlight ‘everyday peacemakers’ voices that often go unreported. The piece comes with a 27- minutes video of Matina’s interview and her full biography, which means background research was done and journalist’s field work contributed to the writing.

NGO launches education initiative for migrant and refugee children Kathimerini7 reported on a small NGO, Civis Plus, launching a program for the provision of supplementary schooling and engagement activities in Greek for migrant and refugee children aged 7-12 years old in central Athens. The Social School Support for Migrant and Refugee Children program is located in the downtown neighborhood of Exarchia and will provide supplementary teaching for children, as well as creative and artistic activities. There will also be lessons for parents wanting to learn Greek. The course is to begin on February 1st and end within one school year. This article revolves around integration activities, organized under the auspices of Civis Plus. Contact details for individuals interested in contributing or enrolling in the program are also provided, making the article an active promoter of this peaceful co- existence initiative. Essentially, the piece is a solution-oriented one, since it presents the establishment of a recreational space for migrant and refugee children forced out of school.

6 ‘Person of the Year 2015’, The Press Project, 25 Dec.2015, available at https://www.thepressproject.gr/article/86916/ANThROPOS-TIS-XRONIAS-2015 7 NGO launches education initiative for migrant and refugee children’, Kathimerini, 13 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/205030/article/ekathimerini/community/ngo-launches- education-initiative-for-migrant-and-refugee-children

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‘Lifo’ reports on the island of Lesvos Lifo magazine8, in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (or more widely known as MSF), reported on Lesvos Island in a non-conventional manner, dedicating a special issue with seven articles, photos and audiovisual material on the island’s ground realities through the eyes of locals, aid workers and refugees. The magazine correspondents’ field visit was PJ oriented, since it gave them the chance to provide a detailed description of the island’s reality via different parties’ testimonies. The latter contributed to a balanced approach due the individuals’ different background, origins and status9. Stereotypes of single men arriving in Europe as dangerous individuals and potential terrorists are challenged10. The piece does not aim in manipulating readers and this is evident in one of the accompanying videos, where people discuss without journalists interfering or making comments, the only statement being that “countries have borders, people don’t”11, sending a strong message of peace. The story is deeply people-oriented, in contrast to simple numbers and rations, and reporters are well-aware of this, highlighting that “behind the crowd and the impersonal flows there are people with their own personal stories, hopes, dreams, scars and fears”. The aim is not to exaggerate or make readers feel pity for refugees and migrants but admire their inner power, stamina and determination, reminding us that most of the times “they do not ask for anything”, as the article recalls. Calling for interested individuals to contribute to Doctors without Borders work, the piece further reveals its solution-driven character.

Ethnos daily reports from a Frontex vessel operating off Lesvos Ethnos12 journalists reported from a Frontex vessel under Portuguese flag operating off Lesvos Island. In a story appearing in the Sunday edition, they described the way Frontex officers operate under the new Rapid Intervention operation. This piece can be considered as an attempt to report under PJ since it is truth- led, thanks to field work (photos and video) material presented. The article brings to the audience the situation Frontex Officials as well as Greek port officers experience on a daily basis. Live reporting comes from the EU officials’ vessel, but all parties are

8 Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Lesvos: Heaven and Hell’, Lifo, 13 Jan.2016 available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/86517 9 Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Lifo presents a unique project for the refugee crisis during Christmas holidays in Lesvos’, Lifo, 15 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84809 , Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Arrivals give a new sense of hope’, Lifo, 26 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84912 , Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘3rd day: People of Lesvos. Residents of the island and volunteers from all around the world show their solidarity’, Lifo, 27 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84985 10 Nikoleta Kondouli, ‘Male refugees have a particular role in the crisis’, Lifo, 27 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84989 11 Dimitris Mavroforakis & Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Countries have borders, people don’t’, Lifo, 31 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/85362 12 Lefteris Bintelas, ‘Tragedy in the Aegean through the eyes of Frontex’, Ethnos, 21 Jan. 2016 available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/h_tragodia_sto_aigaio_me_ta_matia_ton_andron_tis_frontex- 64320727/

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in the picture: people in the sea are despaired and afraid and this is obvious from the videos produced and accompany the story. In addition, there’s open space and time, with events that could happen at any time, everywhere in the border between Greece and Turkey. It should be noted, however, that there are also WJ elements, namely a sensational headline “Tragedy in the Aegean”, no direct communication with those rescued neither by directly interviewing nor by later reporting on their testaments. Not to mention, smugglers are portrayed in a dehumanized way and casualties are reported with a focus on visible (the incident) rather than invisible (traumas, fears etc) violence.

The “volunteer imam” who buries drowned Muslims on Lesvos Ethnos13 reports on thirty-year old Mustafa Dawa from Egypt who came to Greece in 2007 to study and moved to Lesvos one year ago to work as a volunteer interpreter for a German NGO. Given the absence of an imam on the island, a few months ago he decided to assume those duties, having some relevant knowledge from his homeland studies. He took the initiative to contact municipal authorities and ask permission to use an empty field in the village of Kato Tritos as the burial site for Muslims who drown in their effort to reach Europe. Since then, he is the only one to perform this difficult task, in accordance with Islamic law. It is to be noted that the whole endeavor is solely financed by donations. This is a prominent example of PJ article for a number of reasons. First of all, it is people-oriented: a young man’s personal story, deciding to fill in a big gap, “something that does not attract cameras’ attention and nobody wants to do”14; burry refugees and migrants who died at sea. The article provides the motives behind his initiative, the idea’s background and a peaceful resolution being reached, in the sense that what needed to be done after each casualty was taken care of in dignity and with respect, from someone with the same religious faith. Sensationalism and conflict are thus avoided via a human story, rich in context. Mustafa reveals he feels morally obliged to take care of the dead Muslims because if he does not he will carry this sin forever. Even though visible issues, such as lack of space and financial constraints, are reported the focus is on this individual’s inner power, setting a good example for peacefully, via collaboration, resolving issues between hosting and hosted communities. Even though he faced challenges, once performing 57 burials in 8 hours, performed his duty and managed to win the island’s Vice-Mayor’s support.

13 Lefteris Bidelas, ‘The ‘imam’ who took over the sacred mission of refugee’s burial’, Ethnos, 31 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/o_imamis_pou_anelabe_tin_ieri_apostoli_tis_tafis_ton_prosfygo n-64324016/ 14 Ibid.

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Rescuers vs. international maritime law Simon Lewis, an Australian lifesaver who volunteered to help refugees crossing the Aegean Sea to reach Lesvos, reported to the media15 about his harrowing experience. His team helped save 517 people in 10 days but also had to watch 31 others drown in international waters. “If you assist the boat in any way then you are helping people cross international borders and then you could be up for people smuggling charges,” he explained. “We can’t just grab them out of their boat and put them in our boat because it’s safer. We have to wait until they are in the water, in a desperate situation”, he added. This is a piece giving voice to people peacemakers. Through the lifesaver’s interview the audience get to know how international maritime law can result in letting people drown at the sea. It is a proactive type of reporting, with open space and time, highlighting the implications laws and treaties can often have with regards to saving human lives, with truth and people at the forefront.

Greek islanders on front line of crisis – Nobel prize nominations February 1st marks the deadline for the Nobel Peace Prize nominations and a petition to recognize the efforts of the Greek islanders with a nomination has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures. But for those on the island, it is not a question of glory, or even recognition, but one of basic humanity. Two Greeks are nominated for the Nobel Prize by the president of Athens Academy; Aimilia Kamvisi, an 85-year-old grandmother and Stratis Valiamos, fisherman, as well as the actress and activist Susan Sarandon. Greek online media reported on the online petition’s impact16. Even if not all media covered the event in the same manner, it is worth noting the key points that make articles on the topic fall under PJ. First of all, it is a people-oriented initiative, started from individuals, in particular Alkmini Minadaki, an architect and activist from Crete,

15 ‘Rescuers facing maritime law’, Kathimerini, 27 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/847278/article/epikairothta/kosmos/diaswstes-antimetwpoi-me-to-naytiko- dikaio , ‘Lifeguard from Melbourne aside refugees in Lesvos’, Neos Kosmos, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://neoskosmos.com/news/el/node/52924 , Ioanna Zikakou, ‘Australian Lifesaver Volunteering in Greece watch refugees drown’, Greek Reportes, 25 Jan. 2016, available at http://au.greekreporter.com/2016/01/25/australian-lifesaver-volunteering-in-greece-watched-refugees- drown/ , ‘ABC: Lifeguard from Melbourne by the side of refugees in Lesvos’, Newsbomb, 5 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.newsbomb.gr/prionokordela/news/story/657829/abc-nayagosostis-apo-tin- melvoyrni-sto-pleyro-ton-prosfygon-sti-lesvo 16 ‘The Greek proposals for Nobel Peace Prize are in place’, Kathimerini, 1 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/847841/article/epikairothta/ellada/katate8hkan-oi-ellhnikes-protaseis-gia-to- nompel-eirhnhs , ‘More than 580.000 signed for Peace Nobel for islanders – three proposals submitted’, Proto Thema, 31 Jan.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/549458/pano-apo- 580000-upografes-gia-to-nobel-stous-nisiotes-duo-oi-protaseis-pou-tha-katatethoun/ , ‘These are the opponents of the Greek islanders for the Nobel’, CNN Greece, 1 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/20206/antipaloi-ton-ellinikon-nision-gia-to-nobel , ‘Three for the ‘Greek’ Nobel Peace Prize’, Efimerida ton Syndakton, 1 Feb. 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/treis-gia-elliniko-nompel-eirinis , ‘Over 635,000 sign petition to award Nobel Peace Prize to Greek islanders’, To Vima, 1 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=773251

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via an online campaign. Furthermore, it’s essentially a story for everyday people: two Greek islanders to be included in the official Nobel Peace Prize nominations. Even though nominees’ statements are included, the fisherman, Stratis Valiamos, who saved hundreds of lives, wanted to maintain a low profile, saying he did what he had to do, showing his sense of moral obligation towards other human beings regardless or religion, origins, sex, gender etc. Both nominees remain modest and do not consider themselves as heroes for “doing the obvious”17. Besides credit to the individuals, peace initiatives and solidarity-driven deeds were given published and endorsed. It should also be noted that audiovisual material and photos of locals included in the articles contributed towards a better understanding of not just their reality but also refugees plight.

February 2016 Short-film on refugees produced by Kos pupils A small cinematographic project was brought to the audience’s attention thanks to local online media, Alfavita, Rodiaki, Newpost, Patras Events18. The articles are about Sotiris Palaskas, teacher at Kos Evening High School, who together with his pupils produced a short film19 on refugees reaching the island, the stance of local society but also that of Europe. The film is about the two powers defining human behavior: love and fear. Both the video as well as this initiative’s projection are peace-oriented. The former presents a history of ‘migrant’ Europe via Europa’s myth narration. As stated, “Princess Europe forgot where she had come from; forgot that herself is a refugee; raised fences and barbed wires. To shut the monster out”. The analogy with today’s events is obvious, however the story itself does not take an unbalanced approach and does not attempt to dictate the audience’s response. This is done via depicting mixed perceptions of ‘West’ citizens but not commenting on their views; the dilemma always being on either to open up to others, give love and understanding or close to oneself and build fences out of fear not to lose what we think we have. The video ends with one stronger, peace- oriented analogy, from Kavafis Ithaca poem, “Laistrygonians and Cyclops, wild Poseidon – you won’t encounter them unless you bring them along inside your soul, unless your soul sets them up in front of you.”

17 ‘These are the opponents of the Greek islanders for the Nobel’, CNN Greece, 1 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/20206/antipaloi-ton-ellinikon-nision-gia-to-nobel 18 ‘Alfavita Pics: Fortress Europe: A short from Kos pupils’, Alfavita, 15 Feb.2016, available at http://www.alfavita.gr/arthron/fortress-europe-h-tainia-mikroy-mikoys-apo-mathites-tis-ko-0 , ‘A short fil for refuges made by pupils of Kos island’, Rodiaki, 16 Feb.2016, available at https://www.rodiaki.gr/article/331787/mia-tainia-mikroy-mhkoys-gia-toys-prosfyges-apo-toys- mathhtes-ths-kw-binteo , ‘Pupils from Kos made a movie for refugees (video)’, Newpost, 17 Feb.2016, available at http://newpost.gr/ellada/516645/mathites-apo-th-ko-eftiaksan-tainia-mikrou-mikous-goa- tous-prosfyges , ‘The stunning short for refugees by Kos pupils (video)’, Patras Events, 16 Feb.2016, available at https://www.patrasevents.gr/article/210601-h-ekpliktiki-tenia-mikrou-mikous-gia-tous- prosfiges-apo-mathites-tis-ko-video 19 ‘Fortress Europe’ made by the Cinematographic Team of Evening High School of Kos and directed by Sotiris Palaskas, 2016, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B_1xDILKNw

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A refugee family in tears after reunited with cat they lost in Greece Several newspapers20 covered the unusual story of Kunkush, a 3-year-old cat who travelled all the way from Mosul to the Greek island of Lesvos together with a 6- member Iraqi family. However, when the rubble-boat reached the island’s shore the cat was lost in the turmoil. After frantically searching, his owner and her five children were forced to continue their journey to Germany, and later, Norway, without their beloved pet. Kunkush was found by a Greek fisherman days later. Soon, an American volunteer called Ashley Anderson, together with her friends, Amy Shrodes and Michelle Nhin, got together to reunite Kunkush with his family. A funding page was set up and a Facebook appeal launched. Kunkush was finally identified and sent to his family in Norway. Although this story combines traditional news values of bizarre-ness, it still depicts a very intimate story of a refugee family. It thus operates under PJ principles. The story is rich in context, giving an overview of the family’s journey, the circumstances under which they fled their country and extensively explains the efforts of those who found, treated and eventually managed to reunite the lost cat with the family. Audiovisual material and photographs from both sides are included: island’s residents, who took care of the little animal but also the family in Norway, after the reunion. Additionally, it focuses on people, a refugee family and some individuals’ initiative in order to find the cat’s owner. The use and power of social media is highlighted: thanks to the creation of a page in social media, Facebook in particular, but also the use of hashtags in Twitter, after a period of four months, the group achieved to track the owner.

Newest survey poll suggests that one in two Greeks has assisted refugees Dianeosis, a think-tank for research and analysis, conducted a poll21, published by both print and online media22, about refugee crisis in Greece. The report showed that

20 ‘A refugee cat finds his family which lost in Lesvos’, TVXS, 23 Feb. 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/kala-nea/enas-gatos-prosfygas-ksanabriskei-tin-oikogeneia-poy-exase-sti-lesbo- binteo , ‘A cat’s odyssey who got lost in Lesvos’, In.gr, 19 Feb. 2016, available at http://news.in.gr/features/article/?aid=1500059629 , ‘The refugee cat that travelled from Iraq to Lesvos and then to Norway’, Proto Thema, 20 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/world/article/555038/to-epiko-taxidi-mias-gatas-prosfuga-apo-ti-lesvo-sti- norvigia/ , ‘The refugee cat that travelled from Iraq to Lesvos and then to Norway’, Ethnos, 22 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/diethni/arthro/o_gatos_prosfygas_pou_taksidepse_apo_to_irak_sti_lesbo_kai_ap o_ekei_sti_norbigia-64334578/ , ‘The moving journey of a refugee cat’, Megatv, 21 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.megatv.com/megagegonota/summary.asp?catid=27377&subid=2&pubid=35637039 21 Georgakopoulos Theodoros, ‘Refugee Crisis and Greeks: a Research’, Dianeosis, Feb. 2016, available at http://www.dianeosis.org/2016/02/oi-ellines-kai-to-prosfygiko-provlima/ 22 ‘Survey: More than 5 million Greeks assisted refugees’ , Enikos, 28 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.enikos.gr/society/373528/erevna-perissoteroi-apo-5-ekat-ellines-voithisan-tous-prosfyges , ‘Survey: one out of two Greek nationals showed solidarity towards refugees’, Protagon, 28 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/protagon_brief/erevna-enas-stous-dyo-ellines-edeikse-allileggyi- stous-prosfyges?pp=73&pr=44341067292 , ‘Survey: More than 5 million citizens showed solidarity towards refugees’ , Sto kokkino, 28 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.stokokkino.gr/article/1000000000027017/Ereuna-Pano-apo-5-ekatommuria-polites- stathikan-allilegguoi-stous-prosfuges , Kroustalli Dimitra, ‘Solidarity to refugees, blaming the West and the Government’, To Vima, 28 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=780366

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despite the ongoing refugee crisis only one in five Greeks has a clear idea of the number of refugees and migrants reaching Greece. Having said that, an estimated 5 million Greeks have contributed to the management of the refugee crisis offering some kind of help (food, clothes, money, and voluntary work). For those asked, the main responsibility for the crisis lies with the EU (21%) but also with the war and the social crisis in the Arab world (21%). The survey also found that 92% believed the EU had failed to support Greece sufficiently, and 60 percent believed it was important for the country not to exit Europe's passport-free Schengen zone. More than two-thirds of respondents voiced sympathy for the refugees but just over half said they would 'rather not' see them settle in Greece. This is a peace-oriented piece of news, since it provides in-depth analysis and rich context, with data and statistics, over the refugee crisis research subject. The story explores how the crisis was brought about and refers to the different parties involved, their goals and issues. There’s open space and time, with no deadlines and geographical restrictions limiting the scope of the study. In addition, this story unravels truths regarding the refugee crisis, more specifically how little most Greeks know about it. The study also uncovers many aspects that were not obvious, such as host community’s solidarity, but also Greek citizens’ unclear view on several crisis aspects, indirectly calling for further personal study and media analysis.

Volunteerism all over Greece Reporter23, Ta Nea24, Ethnos25 and CNN Greece26 report on the volunteerism of individuals, local authorities and associations across the country. The mobilization of Kozani authorities and citizens has been exemplary, Church’s NGO ‘Apostoli’ offered 10,000 food portions in just two days in Elliniko center, whereas locals in the villages of Domokos Municipality have been accommodating refugees showing great compassion, Energean Oil & Gas offered to Kavala Municipality a large number of medical supplies. These are just a few examples, while thousands are those who lend a helping hand. Stories on volunteerism are good examples of peace-oriented journalism. They focus on positive aspects of Greek culture, those of solidarity, interaction (either direct or indirect), unity, empathy and understanding. Bringing those stories to the spotlight

, ‘Survey: Only one out of 5 Greeks have a clear image on the refugee issue’, Imerisia, 29 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113925401 23 ‘Energean oil & gas: Financial support to Kavala municipality for medicines purchase’, Reporter, 26 Feb.2016, available at http://www.reporter.gr/Eidhseis/Epicheirhseis/energy/282454-Energean-oil-gas- Oikonomikh-bohtheia-sto-Dhmo-Kabalas-gia-agora-farmakwn 24 ‘10.000 food portions, in two days, for urgent refugee needs’, Ta Nea, 27 Feb.2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5338526/10-000-merides-faghtoy-se-dyo-meres-apo-thn- apostolh-gia-ektaktes-anagkes-sitishs-twn-prosfygwn/ 25 ‘10.000 food portions for refugees from Archbishopric’, Ethnos, 27 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/10_000_merides_fagitou_stous_prosfyges_apo_tin_arxiepiskopi- 64337384/ 26 ‘NGO “Apostoli” on refugee side – it offers 10.000 food portions’, CNN Greece, 28 Feb. 2018, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/23339/sto-pleyro-ton-prosfygon-i-apostoli-prosefere- 10-000-merides-fagitoy-to-savvatokyriako

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is also an effort to urge similar donations and engagement with the hosted community – proactive journalism. At the same time, stereotypes regarding host community’s reception of refugees are challenged and a more balanced approach promoted.

March 2016 Mayors of Lesvos, Barcelona and Lampedusa sign agreement of cooperation on refugee crisis The Mayor of Lesvos, Spyros Galinos, the Mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, and the Mayor of the Italian community Lampedusa and Linosa, Maria Nicolini, signed on Tuesday (15/3) an agreement of cooperation for the refugee crisis, at the City Hall of Barcelona, Spain. Earlier in the day, Nicolini was awarded the 36th Peace Prize United, by the United Nations Association of Spain (UNA-Spain). Through the said partnership, the Catalan capital is planning to provide technical, logistical and promotional support as it has been reported.27 This is a positive, conflict-solution-oriented initiative, coming into direct opposition to the ‘passivity of EU and its member states’ image. It aims for cities to overcome obstacles on a local level and take initiatives, instead of waiting for central governments to act on their behalf. This agreement shows solidarity and a focus on what unites cities as parts of three Mediterranean countries. The agreement itself is people-oriented, as it is a joint decision by three mayors, Galinos-Nicolini-Colau, who wished to support and adopt contrasting policies to that of their own governments. Indeed, the Barcelona mayor highlights that collaboration with the two cities will be done in terms of technical services, cultural exchange and economic promotion while also political support will be assured by the Catalan capital to ‘help bring their voices to Europe’. Political statements criticizing the mafias smuggling networks and the ‘illegality’ of the agreement between Turkey and EU were also reproduced, but the overall climate of the reporting remained positive as the focus was on collaboration of equal parts in order to achieve a ‘non-patronizing alliance’.

Health Minister: refugees, not a hygienic bomb Responding to a parliamentary question tabled by New Democracy MP, Kostis Katsafados, and Health Minister Andreas Xanthos stressed that refugees do not

27 ‘Cooperation of Lesvos-Barcelona-Lampedusa for the refugees’, Athens Magazine, 16 March 2016, available at http://www.athensmagazine.gr/article/news/224500-synergasia-lesboy-barkelwnhs- lampentoyza-gia-toys-prosfyges , ‘An agreement of cooperation for the refugee crisis was signed by majors of Lesvos, Lampedusa and Barcelona’, CCN Greece, 16 March 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/kosmos/story/25444/symfono-synergasias-gia-to-prosfygiko-ypegrapsan-oi- dimarxoi-lesvoy-lampentoyza-kai-varkelonis , ‘An agreement of cooperation for the refugee crisis was signed by majors of Lesvos, Lampedusa and Barcelona’, News247, 16 March 2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/kosmos/news/sumfwno-synergasias-gia-to-prosfygiko-metaksu-twn- dhmarxwn-varkelwnhs-lesvoy-kai-lampentouza.3958415.html , ‘Lesvos, Barcelona and Lampedusa mayors signed a cooperation accord for the refugee crisis’ , Era Aegean, 17 March 2016, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=8799

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constitute a hygienic bomb as they are a healthy population after Insider, Kathimerini and ProNews reports.28 He said that the problem is manageable, with no threat to public health. He noted that the challenge is to improve refugees’ living conditions. He then stressed that islands’ health centers have been reinforced; the same is to apply to all accommodation centers in mainland Greece. This story is essentially a PJ one, since it speaks against xenophobia. Health Minister’s statements, rejecting local community’s fear of a ‘hygiene bomb’ and transmittable diseases from the ‘other’, the ‘unknown’ are on the spotlight. It should be noted that this is in contrast to reports recording all Hepatitis A instances as if they were cholera or Ebola cases. As a consequence, the story has a humanizing effect for all sides, refugees included. In addition, it points out to the root problem when concluding that primary concern should be improving living conditions on sites as well as nutrition and personal hygiene (implying current efforts are not sufficient).

April 2016 A cultural center in Idomeni run by refugees and volunteers After the tensions in Idomeni transit camp, involving scuffles and violence from the border police, AMNA (Athens-Macedonian News Agency) covered a more positive development29. An independent group of refugees and volunteers set up a school for refugee and migrant children in the area. The sign outside the big tent reads "Idomeni cultural center" and lessons are held every day. The teachers are refugees that have studied mathematics, science or languages. According to the program, breakfast is served at 9 am, followed by mathematics, Kurdish and Arabic language lessons, while there are also courses for adults. On their part, the volunteers try to teach children English and German, languages they will need in their new lives. One of the volunteers involved in the space mentioned that many children do not know how to read and write because the war disrupted their education. There are even 11 or 12 year-old children that never attended school. Despite adversities, tensions and volatility repeatedly reported at the Eidomeni site, this is a very positive peace initiative and PJ article, aiming at tackling existing problems. First of all, the piece focuses on an aspect of the invisible, structural violence refugees have undergone and is most of the times ignored. This is lack of education due to the ongoing conflict in their home lands. Subsequent damage to their culture and structure (not being able to read) is evident and brought to the forefront by the article.

28 ‘Xanthos about refugees: there is not hygiene bomb risk’, Insider, 28 March 2016, available at http://www.insider.gr/eidiseis/ellada/9988/xanthos-gia-prosfyges-den-yparhei-ygeionomiki-vomva , Giorgos Burdaras, ‘Xanthos: “There is no issue of ‘hygiene bomb’ from the refugee flows”’, Kathimerini, 28 March 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/854642/article/epikairothta/politikh/3an8os-den-ti8etai-8ema- ygeionomikhs-vomvas-apo-to-kyma-twn-prosfygwn , ‘Xanthos: “There are no evidences of ‘hygiene bomb’ due to the refugee issue”’, Pronews, 28 March 2016, available at http://bit.ly/2pIiJF2 29 ‘Idomeni cultural Centre, a school for children refugees’, AMNA, 14 Apr.2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/english/article/13548/Idomeni-cultural-centre--a-school-for-children-refugees

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The story is conflict-solution oriented and provides a good example of proactive initiatives, bringing communities together and contributing towards peaceful co- existence. Furthermore, the article gives voice to the ‘voiceless’, daily people as well as local peacemakers.

Pulitzer Prize awarded to three Greek photographers Kathimerini30, Skai31, Proto Thema32 and another two online newspapers33 wrote about the Pulitzer Prize, awarded in the Breaking News Photography category, “for gripping photographs, each with its own voice, that follow migrants and refugees hundreds of miles across uncertain boundaries to unknown destinations”. The Reuters photo coverage of refugees arriving in Europe was captured in Greece by Yannis Behrakis, chief photographer for Greece and Cyprus. The other two Greeks on the team are Alkis Konstantinidis and Alexandros Avramidis. The team captured a series of images of refugees crowded on flimsy sea craft and their first moments upon reaching Europe. “We showed the world what was going on, and the world cared. It showed that humanity is still alive,” Behrakis said. “We made it for these unfortunate people’s voice to be heard. Now with a Pulitzer, we feel that our work has been professionally recognized.”34 This is a people-oriented news story, reproducing the image of refugee suffering through the eyes and work of photographers. We get to know more about those professionals, their personal views and beliefs but also their work vis-à-vis the refugee crisis. Their work, which evokes sympathy and understanding, helps capture the moment and bring to the light moments that would have otherwise been lost. As such, this piece is against unbalanced approaches and war journalism reporting. Each and every individual can interpret its own way the published photographs.

Survivors recount mayhem of Mediterranean shipwreck In view of the high international media interest, UNHCR organized a press briefing by two survivors of the latest Mediterranean Sea tragedy. At the briefing,

30 ‘Three Greek photographers on Thomson Reuters team to win Pulitzer Prize’, Kathimerini, 19 Apr.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/208055/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/three- greek-photographers-on-thomson-reuters-team-to-win-pulitzer-prize 31 ‘Pulitzer award ceremony to three Greek photographers’, Skai, 19 April 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/culture/article/312888/treis-ellines-fotografoi-piran-vraveio- poulitzer/#ixzz46GfaQYc1 32 ‘Have a look at the photos that gave a Pulitzer to three Greek photographers’, Proto Thema, 19 Apr.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/culture/article/571454/vraveio-poulitzer-gia-treis- ellines-fotografous/ 33 ‘Pulitzer Prize award to Reuters and NY Times for the photographic coverage of the refugee issue’, Express, 19 Apr.2016, available at http://www.express.gr/news/world/787238oz_20160419787238.php3 , ‘Color of Greece in the Pulitzer Prize for refugees coverage’, Kosnews24, 19 Apr.2016, available at https://www.kosnews24.gr/ellada/item/228343-elliniko-xroma-sta-poylitzer-gia-to-prosfygiko 34 ‘Three Greek photographers on Thomson Reuters team to win Pulitzer Prize’, Kathimerini, 19 Apr.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/208055/gallery/ekathimerini/in-images/three- greek-photographers-on-thomson-reuters-team-to-win-pulitzer-prize

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facilitated by Praksis, one Ethiopian and one Somali man presented their story, shedding light on the incident. Stories from the survivors and grieving relatives give a clear timeframe for one of the worst such tragedies in recent years, showing not just the dangers of the journey but also the relative sophistication of the human smuggling ring. For three days, they were reportedly abandoned by their smugglers at sea, without food or water. A knife-wielding smuggler prevented survivors from pulling others to safety, leaving them to drown in the dark. Survivors said the smuggler headed towards Italy but at a certain point he boarded a third boat to return to Libya. He promised to return with water and food, but never reappeared. He also left a satellite phone, with an Italian number for them to call. One ship passed nearby but did not pick them up. A Philippine-flagged cargo vessel that was sailing nearby finally rescued them on April 16 and took them to safety to Kalamata on the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece. The story was covered by various international media agencies like Reuters, Washington Post, Dailymail, World Tribute, Bangkok Post, The Independent, Radio France International, NY Times, CNN and others; however, only one Greek online news page35 reported the event. This is a people-oriented news story, with survivors given the chance to openly talk about their tragedy and sensitize the hosting community. There’s open space and time, with their tragedy having the potential to be repeated at any given instance should similar conditions be present. Furthermore, the story focuses on the invisible effects of violence, what those refugees have gone through during their perilous journey to Greece and the EU. What is very important is that this story has a humanizing effect not only for refugees but also migrants, arguing that they basically face the same difficulties and traumatic experiences. It is to be noted that during the event there were no set questions and this is important for this story’s balanced approach. Last but not least, what is narrated exposes the smuggling networks formation and its business-dimension.

Syrian athlete to carry Olympic flame through Elaionas site With the occasion of the Olympic inauguration ceremony, Kathimerini36 covered the story of Ibrahim al-Hussein, a 27-year-old Syrian refugee, who is about to carry the Olympic flame through the Elaionas temporary accommodation site in Athens as part of the Torch Relay, a symbolic gesture to raise awareness on the plight, strength and resilience of all refugees. The story narrates al-Hussein’s feelings of honor and pride to carry the Olympic Torch while he stated that he is carrying the flame for himself but also “for Syrians, for

35 ‘Dramatic story witness of Somali survivors for the loss of 450 people in the Mediterranean’, Tharros News, 21 Apr.2016, available at http://bit.ly/2oiajVm 36 ‘Disabled Syrian war refugee to carry Rio flame in Greece on behalf of displaced’, Kathimerini , 26 Apr.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/208189/article/ekathimerini/sports/disabled- syrian-war-refugee-to-carry-rio-flame-in-greece-on-behalf-of-displaced

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refugees everywhere, for Greece […]”. Moreover, al-Hussein said to the media that he is not only a refugee, but an athlete too. Despite his disability -he lost part of his right leg to a bomb in 2012 during Syria’s civil war- he is a freestyle swimmer, a basketball player and former judo wrestler. He recalls learning to swim and train in the River Euphrates, next to his hometown. He treats himself as a healthy person and does not want to talk about his injury with his neighbors or colleagues. Finally, unlike other refugees and migrants, he chose to stay in a financially struggling Greece and he managed to find a home, a job and training facilities. This is a very important piece, with plenty of PJ elements. First of all, it is people- oriented, reporting on the personal story of a war refugee, who lost part of his limb but still has the power and energy to go ahead; he has a house, a job, he is learning Greek and he regularly trains. A young man with great aspirations who, despite his injury, wants to be treated equally. Via this article, the media give voice to the voiceless, more specifically a young peacemaker with strong aspirations and a dedication to both his identities: he is a refugee as well as a Greek. It is important to note that the athlete’s invisible struggles and violence are at the forefront. His trauma from the past is mentioned and even though he does not want to discuss about it in length it is evident that, up to an extent, marked his life. Besides the above, such stories are critical in order to eliminate stereotypes and prejudice against migrants and refugees and thus very much peace-oriented journalism articles.

More Greek people host refugees at their homes Proto Thema37 and Avgi38 report more and more Greek people that are hosting refugees in their homes. Among them are Martha Matsika, a Greek architect from Kypseli, and Greek actress Dora Chrysikou. The 60-year-old architect is hosting at her house in Kypseli during the last month Farimpa with her 15-year-old son Amir, in the framework of the initiative “Refugees Welcome”. Dora Chrysikou hosts a Syrian and an Afghan refugee at her Athens home. Asked whether she felt any fear giving her keys to two complete strangers, the young actress said that on the contrary their presence has changed her life in a positive way. After playing at Vault theater every evening, Chrysikou works as a volunteer at Piraeus port from midnight to 5am. It is at the port where she met the young two men, to whom she proposed to live with her. This is a very touching story, narrating how more and more Greek people host refugees at their homes. It is a very people-oriented piece, about two women hosting refugees. The first story, about Dora Chrysikou, includes a personal and detailed description of her life since early years. It runs through several of her life aspects: her background and how she was as a kid, how she was raised, the difficulties she faced and the reasons that urged her to opening her house to two refugees, one from

37 ‘Dora Chrisikou: “Why I hosted two refugees in my home”’, Proto Thema, 25 Apr.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/572953/dora-hrusikou-giati-i-kori-tou-mastrogiani-pire-sto- spiti-tis-duo-prosfuges-/ 38 Vicky Zafiri, ‘Living together with refugees’, Avgi, 25 Apr.2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6475212/sugkatoikontas-me-prosfuges

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Afghanistan and one from Syria. The second story, that of Mrs. Matsika, describes her willingness to help refugees without a proper accommodation. Both stories deal with prejudices and false beliefs regarding refugees and they work towards disproving them via pointing out how harmonious co-habitation has been as well as the benefits it brought about. The focus here is on invisible effects of hosting individuals’ actions; deep affection for the human being, a unique experience which both hosting and hosted can benefit from. As Ms. Chrysikou stated ‘it is more us who are gaining from them than the other way around’. Furthermore, this is a truth and solution oriented article, not aligning with ones describing violent events around the country, and represents a proactive type of reporting with detailed information and further sources for interested individuals. The underlying message is that there’s also a culture of peace out there, that could contribute in conflict resolution. May 2016 “Hold My Hand” campaign counts the participation of 44,360 pupils As the campaign “Hold my hand” run by the daily Efimerida ton Syntakton39 is about to end, the newspaper talked about its success and sent 44,360 “thank you wishes”, the number of Greek pupils that participated all this time to support stranded refugees and migrants in the country. This is a peace and solution-oriented initiative, covered by PJ articles. It all started from a story on how refugee women were preparing the backpack of their children, to make them feel embraced with love and care. The project’s backpacks will gather stories of pupils, depicting their thoughts. Individuals are aware that this is a mere action, not a problem-solving project, but the aim was to stimulate discussion, raise awareness and contribute to mutual understanding in the school environment. Parallel actions, under the same project’s framework, were also covered, such as book readings, cooking, open discussions, photography exhibitions. Essentially, the initiative is people-oriented, with young pupils but also adults showing their solidarity. It is a ‘transaction out of the world of commerce’40. You give and you take, without selling and buying. Everybody’s participation is brought to the public via the articles, private and public schools, music and theatre centers, painters, novelists, migrants and refugees clubs. An initiative that was firstly launched in the beginning of January 2016 counted 44.360 contributors in total by May 2016, with hundreds of schools getting involved. It has to be noted that such news stories fall under proactive reporting, urging inclusion; one of the media clearly mentions that “except of reporting on current affairs, the newspaper has another mission, to let windows open

39 Dina Daskalopoulou, ’44,360 big thank you wishes’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 1 May 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/44360-megala-eyharisto 40 Giorgos Stamatopoulos, ‘The hands and the words’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 14 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/ta-heria-kai-oi-lexeis , Michail Aggelos Konstantopoulos, ‘Humanity travels’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 14 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/i-anthropia- taxideyei

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and build bridges in the world” 41. The possibility to join the action is an option facilitated via documents attached together with the story, thus the coverage is also proactive and solution-led.

Soccer brings together locals and refugees in northern Greece The story of Nikos Lioliopoulos, a farmer from the village of Meliki in Imathia, who after volunteering for a long time in the Alexandreia camp decided to organize a football game, was covered by Kathimerini42 as well as a local online newspaper43. Nikos came up with the idea for a football game between locals and refugees. The game took place on April 27 at the Municipal Sports Center of Alexandreia between Megas Alexandros, a Trikala-based soccer club, with 50 years of history, and a team of refugee men hosted in the Alexandreia camp. Prior to the game, Lioliopoulos organized a match between young camp’s refugees and PAOK Alexandreia youth academy, which consists of Roma kids from the community of Agios Georgios. Sarah Griffith from the UK, who works with Refugee Support Network, stressed the importance of the game for both the morale of the children but also all the refugees in the camp. Those news stories highlight peace initiatives, intending to build bridges between hosting and hosted communities. Sports is used as a tool to unite locals and refugees, instead of creating competition and animosity between them. Furthermore, the pieces are people-oriented, especially with regards to the local farmer and his initiative to organize a game volunteers describing their engagement. There’s open space and time, with similar initiatives possible to take place anywhere. The general orientation is win-win, with both communities benefiting from the project, and invisible violence effects for refugees, such as psychological pressure, lack of fulfilment, boredom, are brought to the forefront. The initiative and stories about it finally contribute to humanization of all sides. Pictures as well as a video are attached, showing how field research can help produce a comprehensive story.

Reports on mental health for refugees in Greece Reuters44 published the story of a Syrian mental health and psychosocial support

41 Dina Daskalopoulou, ‘A bridge of solidarity and humanity’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 13 Jan. 2016, available at http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/gefyra-allileggyis-kai-anthropias 42 Lina Giannarou, ‘Soccer brings together locals and refugees in northern Greece’, Kathimerini, 4 May 2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/208367/article/ekathimerini/community/soccer-brings- together-locals-and-refugees-in-northern-greece 43 ‘A special football match of ‘Megas Alexandros’ team of Trikala and a team of refugees who are hosted in Alexandria municipality’, Alexandiamou, 27 Apr. 2016,available at http://www.alexandriamou.gr/athlitika/jexoristos-agonas-podosferoy-toy-m-alexandroy-trikalalon-me- omada-prosfygon-poy-filojenoyntai-sto-dhmo-alejandreias.html 44 ‘Managing mental health for refugees in Greece: People need time to mourn’, Reuters, 10 May 2016, available at http://www.reuters.com/article/us-humanitarian-summit-greece-aidworker- idUSKCN0Y10A7 , ‘Managing mental health for refugees in Greece: People need time to mourn’, Kathimerini as it appeared in REUTERS (link above), 10 May 2016, available at

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trainer, working for the International Medical Corps in Greece, whose main job is to make sure mental health programs are adapted to fit individuals’ cultural context. As he explained, in Europe, it is acceptable to help somebody get over their grief by distracting them or trying to cheer them up. But in the Arab culture ignoring grief is considered shameful. People need time to mourn. Refugees and migrants getting off the boats in Greece are rarely given that time. Besides, according to the interviewee, who is a refugee himself, fear is the main obstacle for everyone. The fear of the unknown. And if people manage to overcome it, the situation from a human point of view will definitely improve. This peace-oriented story was initially published by an international news agency, however Kathimerini rebroadcasted it. It is a very good example of people-oriented news, with a humanitarian worker (who also happens to be a refugee) being at the forefront. The story helps disclose many truths that often go unreported: the invisible harm and negative mental repercussions of the whole situation (from the warzone till the long waiting period after lodging an asylum claim) in refugees’ mental status. In spite of the common belief that once reaching EU’s shores all is done, the journey is in fact far from over. Information on the real situation that refugees face on an everyday basis, namely a ‘ever-changing and chaotic environment that Greece has become’, helps humanize their plight and understand their frustration. Furthermore, all of the ‘adventure’s’ stages are meticulously reported. Kidnaped, terror of meeting another person, constant fear, homesickness; an example of what people have been though. Most of all, for both hosting and hosted communities, fear of the unknown. The worker recognizes and confirms those feelings, concluding that “Even if one single person stops being afraid, I will know I have done my job”45.

Volunteers set up a different school for refugee children As reported in Ethnos46, Syrian and Iraqi refugee children aged 6 to 16 years attend twice a week “Cube”, an educational program set up by volunteers, who help them prepare for the future by using Self-Organized Learning Environments (SOLE). The objective is to reinforce children’s creativity and make them think in different ways. At the school, there are no teachers, no books, there is no right or wrong approach as long as kids work harmoniously within the team. Children are incited to create, while volunteers insist on teaching them English, a useful tool wherever they go. This is a peace-oriented story, with creativity being at the center of attention. The journalist describes the alternative methods of learning and the new horizons discovered via examples. It is worth mentioning that the whole project is led by volunteers. The story is rich in context, both in relation to the initiative and the idea’s background.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/208487/article/ekathimerini/community/managing-mental-health-for- refugees-in-greece-people-need-time-to-mourn 45 Ibid. 46 Katerina Tzoumerkioti, ‘Love lessons for refugee children’, Ethnos, 13 May 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/mathimata_agapis_gia_ta_prosfygopoula-64374961/

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Identified gaps and invisible outcomes are also identified. In addition, positive results of the project for kids are highlighted, with their excitement being captured and reproduced by the story. This way, the initiative as well as the story contribute to both resolution and reconstruction via covering gaps in education caused by war in refugees’ home countries.

Chios: refugees and locals clean the island and take a guided tour Samaritan’s Purse, a humanitarian organization, in cooperation with the local association of tour guides and Chios Archaeological Service, called on locals and refugees to participate in the program “Let’s keep Chios beautiful”. The initiative was covered by two local newspapers47. Participants first cleaned a few central spots of the island, and then had a professional guided tour. Refugees hosted at Souda and the Municipal Theater had the chance to get to know the Fortress, the Turkish baths and a house that welcomed refugees back in 1922. This peace-oriented initiative was accomplished via joint participation of host and hosted communities. Participants’ interviews could have also been included in the story, as well as idea conception and implementation details. However, the article’s peace message is still strong, since it referred to a positive, non-violent initiative aiming for the understanding of culture and structure of some monuments and, more broadly, of the society by simultaneously having a positive impact in the island’s communal spaces, teaching respect for the environment and those who live in it.

Lesvos: local volunteer interviewed by emprosnet.gr portal Lesvos news portal, EmprosNet48, interviewed Apostolis Paraskeyopoulos on his experiences as a volunteer on the island since the beginning of the refugee crisis. The first smuggling boats reportedly reached Lesvos’ shores back in 1995, but in the summer of 2015 everything changed, with the highlight being the rescue of 153 boats in a single day. According to Mr. Paraskeyopoulos, the first volunteers came at the end of August that year from Sweden and Norway. They would mostly come as observers, as not even locals had realized the extent of the crisis. During all this time, the NGO that helped the most, is “Lighthouse”, according to the young volunteer, who also stressed that he fully supported the government’s decision to register all NGOs as anyone could wear a T-shirt and pretend to be a volunteer. He also stressed the fact that even if organizations claimed to provide psychosocial support to locals, nobody really helped them after all. Mr. Paraskeyopoulos also expressed fears of missing children

47 ‘Refugees and migrants discover Chios’ history’, Politis Chios, 17 May 2016, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/prosfyges-kai-metanastes-anakalyptoyn-tin-istoria-tis-hioy , ‘Refugees and migrants get to know about the history of Chios’, Astraparis: Chios News Online, 17 May 2016, available at http://astraparis.gr/oi-prosfiges-kai-metanastes-mathainoun-gia-tin-istoria-tis-xiou/ 48 ‘The refugees crisis was not only what we saw’, EmprosNet, 27 May 2016, available at http://www.emprosnet.gr/article/83900-prosfygiko-den-itan-mono-osa-eidame

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during this turmoil, as well as other criminal offences (drugs, arms trafficking and organ trade) taking place on the island. This is a people-oriented piece, presenting a young local’s perspective, an individual who got directly engaged with the refugee crisis. The interview is very detailed and gives us a very good picture of the events in Lesvos. Invisible violence effect on the islanders’ psychological situation is also touched upon, with some of them having witnessed stabbing and gunshot. The interview gives Apostolis the opportunity to open up regarding the three shipwrecks he witnessed and the profound effect they had on him. The news story also unravels hidden events and truths, with Apostolis mentioning that the ‘refugee crisis is not only what the media shows’ but there are much more underneath. The government was absent, the coastguards were absent, the police was absent, so small local communities were called to tackle it all alone”49. Hidden events, such as the loss of 10, 000 children throughout the journey, are also brought to the front. The islander expresses his shock and frustration because of this lack of control and wrong-doings (from NGOs registration to the overall management and follow-up of cases). Last but not least, the news story provides valuable insights on unknown details, like volunteers knowing in advance exactly where boats full of people would arrive, via having ‘colleagues’ at the shore’s other side.

June 2016 Psychological support offered to coast guard officers serving in northeastern Aegean The University of the Aegean, together with the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, have launched a program of psychological support for Coast Guard officers serving in the northeastern Aegean, under the initiative of Ministry’s Secretary- General, Yannis Theotokas, as Era-Aegean50 reported. The program consists of a series of lectures and actions. The first lecture took place on May 26, on Rhodes Island, dealing with post-traumatic disorder and stress management. Similar lectures are scheduled for this month on Lesvos Island. Even though the news-portal attempts to show the invisible violence effects on individuals working in such stressful situations and under a lot of daily pressure, there are no witnesses or people interviewed on the hard work they do: being ready, on an everyday basis, to deal with either desperate survivors or dead corpses and very often traumatized minors. The story can get classified under PJ, mainly due to the topic selection, but it should be noted that it could have been reported in a more comprehensive way.

49 ‘The refugees crisis was not only what we saw’, EmprosNet, 27 May 2016, available at http://www.emprosnet.gr/article/83900-prosfygiko-den-itan-mono-osa-eidame 50 Anastasia Spiridaki, ‘Psychological support to the coast guard staff of the islands from the University of the Aegean’, Era Aegean, 2 June, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=12113

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Athenian family hosts Syrian mother of two Kathimerini51 and Protagon52 covered a story of a family of five that opened its home to a Syrian mother with two young children via Solidarity Now’s Hosting program, supported by the UN Refugee Agency. The house in the southern suburbs of Athens is the temporary home for Fadoua and her kids since April 10. Cultural barriers are easily overcome and they all report happy and more enriched from this new experience. As for the young Syrian, she has never felt that relaxed and happy for a long time. Reactions in the neighborhood vary: from parents leaving the playground when refugees appear, to others who are eager to help. A woman in the park reportedly offered them a baby stroller. Barbara Hendricks, soprano and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, visited the family and personally thanked the hosts for their message of support, a message Hendricks herself wants to deliver to EU leaders. This news story puts ordinary people at the center of attention. Elite is only marginally presented, while daily life individuals occupy the stage. Their daily co- habitation is unfolding. Structural and cultural differences are not presented as a problem, neither is the language barrier. The story is also solution-oriented, with a Greek family showing their willingness to help refugees. More importantly, all parties’ voices are heard. This contributes to the development of empathy and understanding by humanizing all sides.

The Greek 'Solidarity Salt' project aims at social inclusion and development The Greek ‘Solidarity Salt’53 proposal was qualified among 1,000 candidacies from 36 countries to the semi-finals of the European Social Innovation Competition, which aims to promote innovative approaches that will develop the dynamic of the refugees and migrants and contribute to their integration in reception countries. The story firstly appeared in Kathimerini54 in June 2016 and in smaller news portals55 in the following months, while Efimerida ton Syntakton56 published a corresponding story in early December of the same year.

51 ‘Harmonious coexistence despite differences’, Kathimerini, 10 June 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/863162/article/epikairothta/ellada/armonikh-synypar3h-para-tis-diafores 52 Iassonas Karamitros, ‘The Greeks who take refugees at home’, Protagon, 9 June 2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/i-oikogeneia-pou-pire-tous-prosfyges-spiti-tis-44341159224 53 ‘Solidarity Salt: The refugee food company that empowers women to build a new life’, Solidarity Salt, available at https://www.solidaritysalt.com/ 54 ‘The “Solidarity Salt” initiative among the 30 finalist in the European Social Innovation Competition’, Kathimerini, 27 June 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/865226/article/epikairothta/ellada/to- solidarity-salt-stoys-30-poy-prokri8hkan-ston-eyrwpaiko-diagwnismo-koinwnikhs-kainotomias 55 ‘The Greek candidacy of “Solidarity Salt” in the semi-final phase of the European Social Innovation Competition’, Sofokleousin, 2 July 2016, available at http://www.sofokleousin.gr/archives/305781.html , Afroditi Preveza, ‘The answer to the refugee crisis is solidarity and the women behind Solidarity Salt know it well’, Ipop, 11 Oct.2016, available at https://ipop.gr/themata/eimai/apantisi-stin-prosfygiki- krisi-ine-allilengyi-ke-ta-koritsia-piso-ap-solidarity-salt-gnorizoun/ 56 Michail Aggelos Konstantopoulos, ‘The salt of Inclusion’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 12 Dec. 2016, available at http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/alati-tis-ensomatosis

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The Solidarity Salt is a new social enterprise in which women from Greece and women refugees residing in the country work together to create a successful business to export Greek sea salt. The project, according to its two members, Vivian Karavia and Elisabeth Koulouri, was launched to assist refugees in ‘Greece of high unemployment’ as much as possible by (i) enhance women’s self-esteem, (ii) improve their talents and skills and (iii) act as a baseline for future inclusion initiatives of refugees in the job market. All relevant publications are peace-oriented, with very detailed descriptions of the initiative and interviews with the two individuals. Additional information, (innovative projects of the last three years, link of the project itself, contact details of the pioneers and “Solidarity Salt” social network account) are also included. The initiative itself is a very good example and positive concept regarding peaceful co- existence between hosted and hosting communities, as well as refugees’ integration. The article’s underlying message is that change and action is still possible in an era of financial crisis.

August 2016 Viotia site through the eyes of a teenager “Unfortunately the media do not reflect the real situation in the camps, neither refugees nor volunteers’ stories”, this was the first comment -to Lifo57- of Ifigenia Bakella, a 17 years-old volunteer in Viotia camp. Ifigenia also states that, through her involvement with displaced population, not only she gained life lessons but was also able to bond and develop strong feelings for them. The interviewee criticizes the way those people are often depicted in the news, aiming at refuting the common, one-sided discourses and prejudices created by media projection. She points out that direct engagement may change everyone’s perspective about refugees in particular and life in general. The young girl narrates refugees’ personal stories like that of a girl who had a unique talent in painting and is so enthusiastic about going to school that wakes up every day at 6:00 am to get ready; or that of a 75-year-old woman with determination bigger than her physical strength, seeking to reunite with her daughter in Germany; or the single mother, who struggles every day for her children’s wellbeing in the camp. Finally, she expresses her sadness about the Afghans residing in the camp, who are often not considered as refugees, despite the Taliban’s persecution and bombing of their own area, being more stigmatized and excluded. This is a very good example of peace-oriented journalism. The news story is people-oriented, with the young volunteer being at the forefront. The story exposes untruths and embraces the possibility of society reconstruction via the call for understanding and embracing the ‘unknown’. The article suggests readers should try and combat the fear they might have and initiate a process of getting close to the

57 Aris Dimokidis, ‘The experience of a teenage girl in the refugee camp of Viotia’, Lifo, 26 August 2016, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/mikropragmata/111960

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different and the unknown. More importantly, via the volunteer’s narration, the article gives voice to the voiceless and confirms the existence of people who are determined to learn from others. September 2016 Chios: refugees, migrants return lost wallets and purses A Syrian boy found a purse at Chios Municipal Park and immediately gave it to his father, who in his turn, handed it to the person responsible for the management of the Souda hosting site. The said purse contained credit cards and personal documents. In a related development, two Pakistani men in their 30s found a wallet in the city center containing credit cards and cash. The wallet was returned to the person who had lost it, without them asking for anything in return. The news were broadcasted by Era Aegean58 and Alithia59 news portal. One the media also included audio material of the telephone interview during which the wallet owner described in detail what happened. As mentioned in the interview, it is of critical importance that positive news be projected by media. This comes in sharp contrast with the current, Manicheistic narrative of ‘us versus them’, on the basis of black or white analyses. Reality is more complicated and voices from the field need to be heard. The two stories under discussion are people-oriented; it was the owner of the wallet who contacted a newspaper because he wanted to express the current situation from his viewpoint. Both news agencies criticize the fact we are, on a daily basis, overwhelmed by negative news.

Trikala: refugees helped locals to distribute water to flooded villages Trikala Municipality, central Greece, issued an announcement on Sunday (11/9) thanking dozens of Syrian refugees staying at a camp in the vicinity for their help in distributing drinking water to flooded villages in the area. Dozens of villages, such as Fotada and Kaloneri were cut off from the main water supply after Saturday’s destructive rains flooded the water network as well as hundreds of hectares of farmland. Syrian refugees joined forces with volunteers, municipal workers and crews from the water company to distribute bottles of water to homes that are cut off. In its announcement, the municipal authority thanked refugees, by saying in Kathimerini: “From the horrors of war, to volunteering their services to flooded villages of the Municipality of Trikala. From bombs and bloodshed, to devastated livelihoods. Volunteerism, the act of giving and concern for our fellow man triumphed on Saturday

58 Thodoris Pyliotis, ‘A double instance of returning lost wallets from refugees and migrants’, Era Aegean, 8 September 2016, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=16580 59 ‘Two Pakistanis found a wallet and they returned it’, Alithia, 8 September 2016, available at http://www.alithia.gr/koinonia/dyo-pakistanoi-vrikan-portofoli-kai-paredosan-xios

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[…]”60. Several others agencies, such as Proto Thema61, Thessalia TV62, Makedonia63 and Aftodioikisi64 also reported on the event. This is a good example of peace-oriented journalism, since it shows that helping other people is an innate characteristic of our human nature that stands no matter people’s different social status (citizen or refugee). It highlights the solidarity showed by both refugees and locals in first aid water supply as villagers were in desperate condition, seeing homes being demolished by the flood and their crops destroyed. As noted in the news story, “in one single action we were able to see volunteerism, consideration and care”65.

Families from Syria share apartments in Athens Lifo66 presents a story on two Syrian families, currently hosted at apartments under the UNHCR rent assistance program. They have reportedly found some calm in their life, have been welcomed by neighbors who have rushed to offer their help, but keep on dreaming either to return home or to make it to Western Europe. The story also gives voice to a photographer from Mexico, who decided to narrate people’s stories once she realized that news in the media were a bit different from the reality she lived among them during the past months. This is what the article aims to: showcase their daily energy, plans, dignity and strength. This is a people-oriented article. It has a humanizing effect via the build-up of empathy, due to the hidden stories brought to the light and giving voice to the voiceless. There’s a call for the host community to participate or at least understand and embrace what refugees have gone through. The article is quite comprehensive, with the family’s bio, photos and their recent stories being published. All human feelings are described, amongst them feeling homesick; how they started trusting and believing in people- former strangers. The story takes place in open space and time, meaning it is not a single case scenario.

60 ‘Trikala thanks refugees for help in distributing water to flooded villages’, Kathimerini, 11 Sept.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/211937/article/ekathimerini/news/trikala-thanks-refugees- for-help-in-distributing-water-to-flooded-villages 61 ‘Trikala: Refugees from Syria distributed bottles of water to flooded area’, Proto Thema, 11 Sept.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/609698/trikala-dianomi-nerou-stous- plimmuropatheis-me-ti-voitheia-suron-prosfugon/ 62 ‘Syrian refugees and volunteers distributed bottles of water to those affected by the floods’, Thessalia TV, 11 Sept.2016, available at http://www.thessaliatv.gr/news/31649/syroi-prosfyges-kai-ethelontes- moirasan-emfialwmena-nera-stoys-plhmmyropatheis/ 63 ‘Trikala: Refugees distributed bottled water for the people of the flooded villages’, News Makedonias, 11 Sept.2016, available at https://news.makedonias.gr/2016/09/844472/ 64 ‘Trikala: Refugees distributed bottled water to flooded villagers’, Aftodioikisi, 11 Sept.2016, available at http://www.aftodioikisi.gr/ota/dimoi/trikala-prosfiges-moirasan-emfialomeno-nero-se-katoikous- plimmirismenon-xorion/ 65 Ibid. 66 M. Hulot, ‘The refugees next door’, Lifo, 9 Sept.2016, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/athens_articles/113376

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Malaria in Greece: “refugees, a vulnerable but not dangerous population” During a one-day conference on “malaria in Greece today”, organized by the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP) and the National School of Public Health (NSPH), it was stressed, inter alia, that the Health Ministry has been seriously dealing with the issue, putting emphasis on prevention, as it has been reported in Iatronet67 webpage. To Vima68 reassured the audience that refugees do not constitute a risk for public health, whereas it was noted that refugees and migrants are vulnerable, with regard to malaria, but in no case a dangerous population, or a population that should be in exile. This is an important news story. It is classified as a peace journalism one due to its deeply humanizing effect and action against prejudices. It attempts to disassemble, via rigid argumentation, myths created regarding refugees’ health condition. The article is well-detailed, with background info on refugees’ origin country health conditions and vaccinations they had in Greece. It is stressed that their current living conditions are to blame for spreading of diseases. This is, thus, a balanced approach, revealing our wrong-doings and (indirectly) calling for remedial action.

Mermix theater company creates book for refugee children Mermix theater company, based in Thesssaloniki, created a multilingual story titled “The Journey of Halima”69 aiming at offering some comfort to refugee children, giving them an explanation on how people were forced to abandon the land of rain (their homeland) to reach the land of sun (Europe). Based on Syrian folk stories, with no evil characters, the story, printed in Farsi, Arabic, English (as the lingua franca) and Greek, will be distributed to all refugee children in Greece. In addition, Mermix members stage a performance based on the story at northern Greece reception centers. The story is also available online, translated in seven languages and accessible free of charge. Parallaxi70 news magazine wrote a relevant article that falls under PJ narrative. It is conflict-solution oriented, as it highlights the creative project of Halima’s Journey. This project transmits positive values to kids via a story with no evil characters’ while also taking into consideration cultural and structural elements. Further, it explains where this idea originates, gives a summary of the children’s fairy tale and what its ultimate goal is. It is an open space and time initiative focusing on mutual

67 ‘Conference HCDCP – NSPH: Never until now malaria has been transmitted through blood transplant’, Iatronet, 22 Sept.2016, available at http://www.iatronet.gr/eidiseis-nea/perithalpsi- asfalisi/news/37683/imerida-esdy-keelpno-pote-mexri-simera-den-exei-metadothei-elonosia-apo- metaggisi.html 68 Tania Bozaninou, ‘There is no risk for public health from refugees’, To Vima, 21 Sept.2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=830524 69 The Halima Project, 2016, available at http://thejourneyofhalima.com/ 70 Christina Paraskevopoulou, ‘A multilingual fairy tale for refugees children made in SKG’, Parallaxi, 26 Sept.2016, available at http://parallaximag.gr/life/biblio/thessalonikis-dimiourgoun-ena-poliglosso- paramithi-gia-ta-pedia-prosfiges

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understanding, as it points out that peace can be reached through a combination of non- violence and creativity.

Pupils of 106th Athens Elementary School embrace refugees Contrary to the reactions of parents’ associations in Imathia, Leros island and elsewhere, the 6th grade pupils of the 106th Athens elementary school, located in Goudi, wrote a letter stressing they want to have refugee children in their classroom. “We are all equal in a world without discrimination, living in a big community […] It sounds strange to us, and we are deeply saddened by the fact that parents think like that about children – who could be theirs - not accepting them under any condition,” children say. Efimerida ton Syntakton71 draw attention to the hotly-debated dispute on whether to let refugees’ children have access in national elementary and high-schools. The news agency published the letter children from this school wrote in this regards, supporting the education of refugees, calling everyone to prevent xenophobia’s rise and opt for non-discrimination. This is a people-oriented story, with open space and time – namely being able to cause effects and outcomes everywhere-, giving voice to the voiceless, in this case children themselves, and acting against prejudices. It also shows how adults can learn some values from children instead of the opposite.

October 2016 How the Greek school changed the life of an unaccompanied minor from Afghanistan A News24772 article features the story of a 16-year old unaccompanied minor from Afghanistan hosted in Stegi Plus of Praksis NGO. He was granted asylum in Greece after a year and he is one of the several success stories on refugees’ progress and integration in the country. The article narrates the impact that the Greek school had on the child’s wellbeing: despite his shyness was able to open up and start integrating. This is a people-oriented story, with several pictures from the minor’s daily life. The story is a result of both his statements (interview) and those of people around him (school teacher and the local social worker), thus providing a balanced approach of the case while also giving voice to the voiceless. His former life in Afghanistan is explained in detail; living conditions and circumstances in comparison with that of his new life in Greece. Cultural differences are pointed out, yet the focus is on the invisible effects this experience had on the child. This way, readers humanize and empathize with the young refugee. The story is truth-oriented and shows that where there is will there are also

71 ‘We want refugee children in our school’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 29 Sept.2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/emeis-theloyme-ta-prosfygopoyla-sto-sholeio-mas 72 Ioannna Bratsiakou, ‘How the Greek school change the life of an unaccompanied minor from Afghanistan’, News247, 4 Oct.2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/reportaz/pws-to-ellhniko- sxoleio-allakse-th-zwh-enos-asynodeytoy-paidiou-apo-to-afganistan.4297804.html

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solutions. The positive impact shelter and school had on the minor is highlighted, with the aim of casting out fear and skepticism with regard to refugees’ integration in Greece.

Education Ministry: the incident at Lesvos’ 8th elementary school was staged General Secretary of Education Ministry, Yannis Pantis, rebuffed reports that parents on Lesvos island had padlocked the gate of the 8th elementary school in the island’s capital, Mytilini, to prevent refugee children from attending the program. In an interview with Praktorio 104.9 FM, he said that the incident had been “staged” as the school in question was not introduced to the program. Anastasia Spyridaki, reporter of ERT Aegean, also admitted that there are “staged news” at a fee of 50 euros. On the other hand, Panagiotis Stavrianos, whose child attends the said school reported to Empros daily that he did padlock the gate of the school in protest as nobody had informed parents on the education program of refugee children. “Our values and customs are not in danger by refugee children,” said the Mayor of Lesvos adding that “their suffering is enough. Let’s be serious, the safety and health of our children is not threatened by refugees”. The articles, written by Kathimerini73, Lesvospost74, Emprosnet75 and Lifo76, do not seek for a peace initiative but rather exposing untruths, unraveling hidden stories and preventing propaganda. They undertake a balanced approach by both interviewing said school parents as well officials. They focus on the non-visible, structural effects of violence, namely fear, potentially leading individuals in acts of despair. More importantly, articles take into consideration the suffering of all parties and especially children.

Refugee builds chapel to express gratitude The news-portal Star – Central Macedonia77 featured a story (video included) about a Syrian refugee, hosted at the hotel «Aigli» in Thermopyles, who decided to build a small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in order to express his gratitude for the hospitality he has been receiving in Greece. Asked by reporters, he urged everyone to pray for the war to end, noting that we all believe in the same God, no matter of the religion. He concluded by saying “we came here to escape war and we thank you for

73 Apostolos Lakasas, ‘First day of school for refugees’, Kathimerini, 11 Oct.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/212715/article/ekathimerini/news/first-day-of-school-for-refugees-few- protests 74 ‘Education Ministry: The incident in Lesvos elementary school with the padlock was staged – the school was never induced to the program’, Lesvospost, 10 Oct.2016, available at http://www.lesvospost.com/2016/10/blog-post_99.html 75 ‘I am not a racist I did it for my child’, EmprosNet, 10 Oct.2016, available at http://www.emprosnet.gr/article/87622-den-eimai-ratsistis-ekana-gia-paidi-moy 76 ‘Lesvos Mayor: Highly racist and silly act to put a padlock in the school’, Lifo, 10 Oct. 2016, available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/117025 77 Argiris Blontzos, ‘Refugee built a chapel in Thermopyles: Pray for the war to stop in my country’, TvStar, 17 Oct. 2016, available at https://tvstar.gr/fthiotida-articles/80349-mousoulmanos-eftiakse- eikonostasi-stis-thermopyles-prosefxitheite-gia-na-stamatisei-o-polemos-stin-patrida-mou-foto-kai- video

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your warm hospitality, I cannot say enough about the Greek people and the way they have treated us so well”. This news story focuses on what unites people rather than their differences. Thus, it contributes towards humanizing and getting to know the ‘other’. After all, as the refugee states, “we all believe in the same God”. It is a people-oriented story, which pinpoints the importance of gestures of recognition and gratitude in the process of conflict resolution and reconciliation between hosting and hosted communities. The piece gives voice to all parties and journalists highlight the gift given to the ones hosting the refugee.

Chios: refugee family peacefully co-exists with locals in the village of Vasileonoiko ERT78 featured a story of a family of five from Aleppo, Syria who, after reaching Chios island and getting transferred to VIAL hotspot, were identified by the UNHCR as in need of special care (their second child has Down syndrome). Identified as members of a vulnerable group, they were offered a house at the village of Vasileonoiko through NGO Arsis, where they have been living for the last two months in perfect harmony with locals. This is the personal story of a refugee family and relevant news stories are very much people-oriented, since they describe the circumstances under which they arrived in Greece as well as their current co-habitation with locals. The story is covered from both sides -hosting and hosted community- marking a very balanced approach. Members of the two communities are described as spending a lot of time together, despite any cultural differences they might have. The article gives voice to the voiceless and presents to the public another successful integration story, positively perceived by locals, which would otherwise go unnoticed. This is a solution-oriented piece, highlighting that lack of fear for the ‘different and unknown’ can even help tackle insufficient service provision and contribute towards reconstructing refugees’ lives.

November 2016 Solidarity initiatives by refugees for refugees The Macedonian News Agency79 wrote about hundreds of self-organized initiatives existing for refugees around the globe, from solidarity maps to mobile applications and direct engagement with needs-oriented programs. More particularly, the newspaper presented a cross media project that was created in Greece, known as the ‘Dome Project’80. This project acts as an umbrella, interconnecting several, self-

78 Theodoris Piliotis, ‘The moving story of little Malik from Syria’, ERT, 29 Oct.2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/h-sygkinitiki-istoria-tou-mikrou-malik-apo-ti-syria-video/ 79 Natasa Karathanou, ‘Solidarity initiatives by refugees to refugees’, Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, 31 Oct.2016, available at http://www.praktoreio-macedonia.gr/article/3733/Protoboulies- allilegguis-apo-tous-prosfuges-gia-tous-prosfuges 80 The Dome Project, 2016, available at http://thedomeproject.net/

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organized initiatives of hundreds of people who were forced to flee their countries. Martha Bouziouri, director of the ‘Dome Project’, referred to its presence in Greece within the frames of the Cultural Innovators Network, aiming to unite solidarity initiatives focusing on socio-political issues. The ‘Hope School’ in Skaramagka camp is part of this skill-developing initiative. This is a peace-oriented story, emphasizing on the many initiatives organized for refugees. The story is well-written and presents plenty of details, with practical examples of such projects in Greece, how they kicked-off and what is their aim. It gives voice to all and shows that remaining passive is not an option for some people.

Hack the Camp: Hackathon on refugee and integration challenges Impact Hub Athens, the Onassis Cultural Center and the US Embassy in Athens are joining forces for ‘Hack the Camp’81, a two-part hackathon on refugee and integration challenges, aiming at giving answers to various issues, such as how to improve living conditions for refugees, how they can have access to reliable information on their legal status and what kind of opportunities are available or can be created for them. Programmers, designers, social entrepreneurs, humanitarian workers, educators, artists and other interested professionals are invited to work together and find sustainable and scalable solutions for and with refugees and migrants in Greece. The news were broadcasted by Skai82, Proto Thema83, Euro2day84 and Business News85. This is one of the few stories featuring creative solutions on aspects of the refugee crisis and making it to the media. Thus, it clearly qualifies as a good example of peace journalism. This is essentially about a call for brainstorming solution-oriented programs aiming in social inclusion and improving refugees’ overall wellbeing. The story gives voice to the voiceless, especially local peacemakers who want to make the difference. Inspiring ideas come to the forefront and news agencies themselves urge citizens to get involved in this sustainable solutions initiative. This way, we can move to conflict resolution and reconciliation.

81 Hack the Camp: Hackathon on Refugee and Integration Challenges, in Onassis Cultural Centre, 2016, available at http://www.sgt.gr/eng/SPG1803/ 82 ‘Microsoft supports the initiative “Hack the Camp” for refugees’, Skai, 2 Nov. 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/technology/article/329486/i-microsoft-stirizei-to-hack-the-camp-gia-tous- prosfuges/#ixzz4OqKJ14rR 83 ‘Microsoft Hellas alongside refugees’, Proto Thema, 2 Nov.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/624701/i-microsoft-ellas-sto-pleuro-ton-prosfugon/ 84 ‘Microsoft supports initiative for refugees’, Euro2day, 1 Nov.2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/enterprises/article/1462042/h-microsoft-ellas-sthrizei-thn-protovoylia- gia-toy.html 85 ‘Microsoft Hellas supports the initiative “Hack the camp”’, 1 Nov.2016, available at http://www.businessnews.gr/article/54887/i-microsoft-ellas-stirizei-tin-protovoylia-hack-camp

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Malakasa camp: refugees have to deal with deadly inactivity

According to Stefanos Ganotis, education coordinator at Malakasa camp, home to 1,000 refugees, mainly Afghans, the greatest problem is that of doing nothing and being insecure about the future. When women were told that a choir is to be set up, they expressed their happiness by saying that music is more needed than food. Children will start attending local schools, most probably after Christmas, with dozens of NGOs currently organizing several activities inside the camp. Ganotis is mostly worried about adolescents, as there are less organized activities for them. Boys usually take the train to Athens, heading to Victoria square as they know that they can meet smugglers there, who might take them to Europe. Being quite vulnerable, they reportedly fall victim of drug traffickers as they come back in a strange state, carrying large sums of money. Finally, the interviewee ask for actions to deal with the saying phenomenon. The story was featured in Kathimerini86. This story unfolds some of the refugee camps’ hidden realities, thus is a truth- led type of journalism. It also reveals some of the risks and dangers refugees face on an everyday basis, moving away from ‘our’ and towards ‘their’ suffering. It gives voice to the voiceless, but not only Syrians and recognized refugees; Afghans also come from a difficult environment, have the same hopes or fears and are most of the times dehumanized in the worst possible way due to being flagged as ‘irregular migrants’. The story exposes a social phenomenon that needs to be tackled on a higher level but also pleads to the host community to creatively start socially involving refugees and put pressure to authorities in search for alternatives.

Refugee physiotherapist, works for US medical team inside accommodation site An asylum-seeker in Greece, physiotherapist in his homeland, this is the story, featured in Parallaxi mag87, of a young man who has been assisting a US medical team, offering his services at a refugee site three days a week, helping with severe cases. When he helped a girl with a congenital neurological problem walk for the first time, a US doctor asked him to join him in the US, but the refugee reportedly answered that he feels better in Greece. This peace-oriented, personal story presents the impressive forms solidarity can take. It brings to our attention and gives voice to a daily-life, field peacemaker. Through his statements, we understand that integration and peaceful co-habitation is possible even under very difficult conditions. The asylum-seeker has developed a sense of belonging, a necessary pre-condition for conflict reconstruction and co-habitation.

86 Ioanna Fotiadi, ‘Refugee Crisis: the enemy is the deadly inactivity’, Kathimerini, 22 Nov.2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/884595/article/epikairothta/ellada/prosfygiko-ex8ros-o-nekros- xronos 87 Eleni Ioannidou, ‘In Greece though, I feel better’, Parallaxi mag, 23 Nov. 2016, available at http://parallaximag.gr/parallax-view/stin-ellada-omos-niotho-kalitera

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December 2016 Thessaloniki: refugees narrate their experiences through comics NGO Antigoni and the art group ADDART invited young refugees to participate in the program “Say it again through comics”, as reported by Newsit88 and Ethnos89 online. Despite the initial hesitation, 15 children from Lagkadikia and 25 from the shelter for unaccompanied minors in Sindos joined the initiative, trying to express their thoughts, feelings and hardship, but also notions such as democracy, human rights, equality and diversity. Workshops are over, all scripts have been completed and ADDART artists now make the storyboard. The stories will first be published in Greek and then in the children’s native tongue (Arabic, Farsi), in order to be accessible to everyone. This is a good example of peace reporting, showcasing a creative and non- violent project that brings together kids in order to express the invisible effect of what they have been through in the past: bombs at home, the flee to Europe, dangers along the journey and obstacles they might still be facing. Voice has been given to the peacemakers as well as the more vulnerable. Cultural differences were also reported (e.g. some kids did not know what comics were), so through the project teenagers were able to create express their own feelings. The story is well written, with extensive details about the project and its aim, demonstrating that conflict resolution and reconstruction is achieved in a small but steady pace.

Germany: pupils of Alimos Music School give concert at wall dividing unaccompanied minors from residents of Munich Efimerida ton Syntakton90 and To Vima91 wrote a piece about the band of Alimos Music School, southern Attica, who travelled to Munich, Germany, in the context of performances given to raise awareness for the refugee drama. The young pupils decided not to play music in a concert hall, but rather at the 12-foot high wall - higher than the Berlin Wall – that has been erected in the German city, as requested by locals to be “protected” from some 160 unaccompanied refugees minors that moved into a shelter, less than 100 metres from a residential estate. Pupils of Alimos Music School did not have the chance to even see the young refugees, but expressed their hope that their music and solidarity reached their ears. Before leaving they wrote a message on the fence saying “Voices break down walls. Your friends from Greece”. Their next

88 ‘Teenagers refugees send emotional messages through comics’, Newsit, 6 Dec.2016, available at http://www.newsit.gr/topikes-eidhseis/Efivoi-prosfyges-stelnoyn-sygkinitika-minymata-mesa-apo- komiks/682628 89 ‘«Say it again through comics»: Teenagers from refugee shelters expressed the difficulties that they face’, Ethnos, 6 Dec.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/ksanapes_to_me_komiks_efiboi_apo_domes_filoksenias_prosfy gon_eksefrasan_tis_dyskolies_pou_bionoun-64738526/ 90 Dialekti Aggeli, ‘Humanity concert in Munich’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 8 Dec. 2016, available at http://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/synaylia-anthropias-sto-monaho 91 ‘Pupils of Alimos Music school set up a concert in front of the “wall of shame” in Munich’, To Vima, 29 Nov. 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=848034

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scheduled performance is set for December 22, at the Greek Parliament, for a concert planned by the UNHCR for unaccompanied minors. This is a peace and people-oriented piece. A story of high-school students who, after convincing their teacher and being granted permissions from both Greek and German authorities, managed to play outside the wall diving unaccompanied refugee minors from Munich locals. Their aim being to raise awareness and send a message against xenophobia. This can be considered as an act of peaceful protest, that gave voice to the voiceless youth. Presented by media, it sounds like a bell ringing for the Greek community, which should not erect the same walls.

Refugees hosted at Katsikas site are “introduced” to the residents of Ioannina During a two-day event, refugees residing at Katsikas site will be “introduced” to the residents of Ioannina and present their culture as a way to thank the Greek people, reported Epirus Post92. ‘Bubbles of hope’ is the title of an art exhibition that is organized by talented people from Katsikas site at the Cultural Center of Ioannina on 15-16 December. Through colors, flavors, shapes and sounds, this event will be a journey from Ioannina to the Middle East. War, loss, waiting, hope, and solidarity are expressed through painting and photography, traditional costumes, music and cooking. This positive interaction between a site’s refugees and residents of Ioannina city, covered by a local news portal, is reported under a PJ perspective. It is people- oriented, as it also urges everyone to attend the exhibition in question and get to know those people who, after getting though diversities, achieved to organize such an event. Peace-initiative is highlighted as well as the reconstruction and reconciliation elements. The focus is on people peacemakers, with a humanizing effect for all different parties.

On refugees’ psychological problems Based on data of various aid groups, Kathimerini93 reports on the increasing number of stranded refugees and migrants suffering from a series of psychological problems. Refugees are remembered by their tents or container numbers rather than by their names. Moreover, they have to face daily inactivity and insecurity for their future, provoking or worsening existing anxiety disorders, depression symptoms and psychological traumas. This topic still remains in the obscurity for the vast majority of people as according to Doctors without Borders’ mental health data, out of 474 refugees and migrants who received psychological assistance in Northern Greece and Lesvos, 22.31% were diagnosed with depression symptoms. As one of the psychologists interviewed states “it is impermissible to help people in Greece overcome the traumas

92 ‘Refugees staying at Katsika site are ‘introduced’ to Ioannina residents’, Epirus Post, 12 Dec.2016, available at http://www.epiruspost.gr/reportaz/koinonia/41799-2016-12-12-20-35-22.html#.WE- te5J0eUI.facebook 93 Giannis Papadopoulos, ‘The psychological trauma of stranded refugees’, Kathimerini, 19 Dec. 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/888464/article/epikairothta/ellada/to-yyxiko-trayma- egklwvismenwn-prosfygwn

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that are caused by the living conditions in the country instead of the traumas they had from the war”. This is a people oriented news story, with voice given to all different parties and especially the voiceless: refugees suffering from psychological parties. In a very kind and respectful way, it points towards the invisible violence effects for refugees (post- traumatic stress, depression and other anxiety disorders), which most of the times go unnoticed. It thus helps the audience humanize and sympathize them, the first step towards discovering the ‘other’. Some of the problems being related to their current living conditions, the story, subtly but shrewdly, points towards ‘our’ wrong-doings as a factor contributing towards refugees’ lives deterioration.

Mavrovouni, olive oil from refugees to refugees, reinforcing their dignity Amna94 and the Press Project95 covered the story behind the production of olive oil by refugees from the olive trees in Kara Tepe site, as narrated to both newspapers by Stavros Myrogiannis, in charge of the site in Moria, Lesvos Island. They produced 300 kilos of olive oil for the needs of refugees staying inside the site. Its name, “Mavrovouni,” is derived by the name of the site Kara Tepe that means black mountain in Turkish. The olives were transferred to a local oil mill plant in Loutra village, without any cost, and bottled with the help of Samaritans’ Purse producing 600 bottles of 500 ml each. He added that everybody is very proud of “Mavrovouni,” the Mayor, the municipality, locals and foreigners, volunteers and most of all refugees. This peace-oriented story examines the initiative’s positive aspects, highlighting interaction with locals, engagement of refugees against passive inaction and empowerment of the hosted community members. The idea, as mentioned in the article, follows the saying of “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”, while the director of the ‘little village’ as he prefers to call the hotspot in the island, aspires to implement more projects with a long term effect on the people. By presenting a creative, solution-driven project and taking a proactive approach, the news stories bring to the light aspects of positive collaboration and co-habitation that go contrary to the usual reports for violence and tension. This way, they offer a ‘window’ through which we can see how conflict resolution could be achieved.

Livadeia: refugee offers his know-how to local Municipality A Syrian man, named Ahmad Ghanzi, who is currently hosted in Livadeia, in the context of the UNHCR program “Accommodation of Asylum Seekers and Relocation Candidates”, visited local Mayor, Giota Poulou, and Vice-Mayor

94 Stratis Balaskas, ‘“Mavrovouni”, an olive oil from refugees for refugees’, Athenian – Macedonian News Agency, 16 Dec.2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/articlep/135694/%C2%ABMaurobouni%C2%BB--ena-ladi-apo-tous-prosfuges- gia-tous-prosfuges 95 Tzeni Tsiropoulou, ‘Dignity oil in hands of refugees’, The Press Project, 16 Dec.2016, available at https://www.thepressproject.gr/article/104483/Ladi-aksioprepeias-dia-xeiros-prosfugon

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responsible for technical issues, Christos Kypraios, proposing to offer his know-how, being a monument restorer himself, as long as he lives in the city. This story was projected by the local news portal of Viotia net96. This local, Voiotia story is a people oriented one, reproducing positive news in a proactive way. Its importance lies in the fact that, via the refugee’s offer, the audience gets to know he both is an educated individual and wants to contribute to the local community’s well-being. This way, prejudices and stereotypes are challenged and empathy is developed.

On the 67th Thessaloniki elementary school Makedonia97 newspaper reported on the exemplary education work for refugee children that is being carried out at the 67th elementary school of Xirokrini in Thessaloniki, where 31 children from Syria and Iraq that are currently hosted at “Hope” camp in Derveni, attend classes every day from 2 to 6pm. Thanks to the inspiration of the school’s principal, Dimitris Goulis, refugee children feel relaxed and eager to both play and learn. Although they share the yard for only a few minutes with their Greek peers, their interaction is very good. This news coverage puts peoples at the center, in particular the school principal, as a role model for promoting integration, critical thinking and interaction between refugees with Greek students. The principal talks about challenges as well as what kids want to learn. His personal qualities and background are analyzed in depth, attributing the exemplary piloting program on refugee children education to his extensive studies (books and PhDs) as well as his deep knowledge on children’s psychology. This is an excellent example of an integration initiative and presenting it to an audience that mostly heard about padlocks in schools where refugee kids were about to start courses can really make a difference and shift perceptions.

96 ‘Syrian monument restorer proposes to voluntarily provide his services to Livadeia’, Viotia net, 21 Dec.2016, available at http://viotianet.gr/archives/39617 97 ‘An exemplary school for refugees’ integration’, Makedonia, 24 Dec.2016, available at http://makthes.gr/%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B1- %CF%83%CF%87%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BF- %CF%85%CF%80%CF%8C%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B3%CE%BC%CE%B1- %CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD- %CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BE%CE%B7-%CF%80/

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2.2. Reporting under War Journalism

January 2016 Tension at Corinth detention center Tension was recorded Saturday night (2/1) at Corinth detention center, northeastern Peloponnese, when a group of approximately 30 irregular migrants put fire on mattresses to protest against their announced repatriation. They also threw stones on security guards and caused material damage to the building. No injuries were recorded. Five newspapers98 make reference to the government’s decision regarding migrants’ repatriation as a reason for conflict while other online newspapers focused on tensions due to the living conditions in the detention center in question99. This type of coverage is a good example of WJ. It focuses on the visible violence and material damages, without exploring the hidden, cultural violence and motives. Fighting parties are in the spotlight and articles are all very brief, only highlighting the tensions. There seem to have been no journalists in the location to interview people who incited violence and thus understand the deep motives behind their actions. Media preference for negativity, violence and sensationalism is evident. One of the websites mentioned that the majority of the 350 detainees are originally from Morocco, stigmatizing and enhancing bias against this particular country’s nationals. The main questions the article answers are “Who is the aggressor?” and “How can he be stopped” instead of peace oriented questions such as “What is the problem?” and “How can it be resolved?”. One sentence, the announced deportation decision, was provided in response to the most crucial question, the ‘why’ of the events. Needless to say, such pieces elicit a negative response and attitude towards migrants who want to stay in the country, as they are characterized as irregular migrants, causing at best material damages to state property.

98 ‘Korinthos: protest at night in center hosting migrants’, Lifo, 3 Jan.2016, accessed in 28 March 2017; available in Greek at http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/85527 , ‘Migrants’ riot in Korinthos detention center: they threw stoned to the guards and put the mattresses on fire’, Newsbeast, 3 Jan. 2016, accessed in 28 March 2017; available in Greek at http://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/2085902/exegersi- metanaston-sto-kentro-kratisis-korinthou, ‘Riot of migrants in detention center in Korinthos – with video’, Enikos, 3 Jan.2016, accessed in 28 March 2017; available in Greek at http://www.enikos.gr/society/361989/exegersi-metanaston-sto-kentro-kratisis-korinthou-binteo 99 ‘Riot in migrants detention center in Korinthos’, e-thessalia, 3 Jan.2016, accessed in 28 March 2017; available in Greek at https://e-thessalia.gr/exegersi-sto-kentro-kratisis-metanaston-stin-korintho/, ‘Extensive damages in migrants’ detention center in Korinthos after incidents’, iefimerida, 3 Jan.2016, accessed in 28 March 2017; available in Greek at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/243678/ektetamenes- zimies-sto-kentro-kratisis-metanaston-stin-korintho-meta-ta-epeisodia

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British actress Vanessa Redgrave visits Eleonas accommodation site Avgi100, Naftemporiki101, In.gr102, Kathimerini103, Iefimerida104 and several other online papers105 covered the news-story of the famous British actress and activist Vanessa Redgrave being in Greece to attend the show “My Smyrna, beloved”. “People in Europe should be better informed about what happened in Smyrna and such tragedies should not be repeated”, she said. Touched by the refugee crisis, she expressed her wish to know firsthand the situation in Greece. Today, she is expected to visit Elaionas temporary accommodation site accompanied by Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yannis Mouzalas. This news story is clearly an elite-oriented piece, largely focusing on a popular actor’s profile background story and her desire to know more about the situation in Greece. There’s lack of context, with only one of the articles making a brief background reference; however, even this is only to represent and promote a show’s plot. Only visible effects are examined, with no information regarding the site of Elaionas and, more importantly, refugees feelings towards the actor’s presence.

Greece sends back 43 irregular migrants to Turkey under readmission agreement Stories about the application of the readmission agreement between Greece and Turkey were published in the web106 as well as articles titled ‘The reasons why there is no solution for the refugee crisis’107 were rebroadcasted. More in details, Greece sent 43 irregular migrants to Turkey under the readmission agreement. The group of 43 Moroccans and Algerians were driven to Turkey crossing the border point of Kipoi in

100 ‘Vanessa Redgrave in refugee camp of Eleonas’, Avgi, 4 Jan.2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6155964/h-vanessa-redgrave-sto-kentro-filoxenias-prosfugon-ston-elaiona 101 ‘Vanessa Redgrave in “My Smyrna, beloved”’, Naftemporiki, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1049652/i-banessa-rentgkreib-sti-smurni-mou-agapimeni 102 ‘The Eleonas refugees will be visited by Vanessa Redgrave’, In.gr, 4 Jan.2016, available at http://news.in.gr/culture/article/?aid=1500049446 103 Eleni Bitsika, ‘Famous actess and UNICEF ambassador, Vanessa Redgrave, in the show “My Smyrna, beloved” in “New World” cultural center’, Kathimerini, 9 Jan.2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/845049/opinion/epikairothta/politikh/h-diashmh-h8opoios-kai-presveira-ths- unicef-banesa-pentgkreiv-sthn-parastash-smyrnh-moy-agaphmenh-sto-8eatron-kentro-politismoy- ellhnikos-kosmos 104 ‘Another star arrives in Greece for the refugees – Vanessa Redgrave in Eleonas camp’, iefimerida, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/243967/kai-alli-star-erhetai-stin-ellada-gia-toys- prosfyges-i-vanesa-rentgkreiv-ston-kataylismo#axzz4hKd6jt8q 105 ‘Vanessa Redgrave with Mouzalas to the refugees of Eleonas site’, Newpost, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://newpost.gr/ellada/508058/me-ton-moyzala-stoys-prosfyges-toy-elaiwna-h-banesa-rentgkreib , 106 ’43 migrants from Morocco and Algeria were sent back to Turkey’, The ToC, 7 Jan.2016, available at http://www.thetoc.gr/koinwnia/article/epanaprowthithikan-stin-tourkia-43-metanastes-apo-maroko- kai-algeria , ‘Readmission of 43 irregular economic migrants in Turkey’, Capital, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://www.capital.gr/epikairotita/3093236/epaneisdoxi-43-paratupon-oikonomikon-metanaston-stin- tourkia , ’05-01-2016: Readmission of fourty-three (43) irregular economic migrants in Turkey’, Astynomia, 5 Jan.2016, available at http://www.astynomia.gr/index.php?option=ozo_content&lang=%27..%27&perform=view&id=59538 &Itemid=1633&lang= 107 ‘Politico: the reason why there is no solution to the refugee crisis’, The ToC, 6 Jan.2016, available at http://www.thetoc.gr/koinwnia/article/politico-oi-logoi-pou-den-lunetai-i-prosfugiki-krisi

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Evros area. It is to be noted that until January 2015, an estimated 3,838 irregular migrants had been repatriated out of a total of 137,772 requests. News on Greece-Turkey readmission agreement and the sending back of 43 ‘irregual migrants’ also resulted in WJ-oriented stories. All relevant articles focused on institutional arrangements in order to curb refugee and migrant flows. In an unbalanced approach, only ‘our’ suffering is presented, with reference to 3,838 readmissions compared to 137, 722 requests. Refugees' individual stories and plight don’t seem to be important, it’s just the visible effect (total number of readmissions) that counts. Additionally, stories indirectly follow an ‘us (Greece) versus them (Turkey)’ approach, with zero-sum orientation. Individuals not readmitted to Turkey will be staying in Greece. The EU (third actor) is presented as “giving everything to Turkey”. Furthermore, the articles are propagating for ‘us’, via pointing out that the “number of readmitted immigrants is a drop in the ocean compared to the 800,000 illegal passings to Greece within 2015”. It is implied that even the 43 readmissions might just be a tactical move from the Turkish side, in order to appease the EU and receive money in exchange for limiting refugee flows. The use of word ‘irregular migrants’ (in bold letters), together with an emphasis on ethic group origin (Moroccans and Algerians) has a profound dehumanizing effect, further strengthened by the reference “more nationals of those countries will follow”. Finally, there is no context, only simple reference to numbers and treaties; no stories on individuals’ reasons for trying to reach Greece/Europe; no reference to those persons’ background and what they might have been through.

Hungarian PM: “EU should erect new Greek frontier to stop migrants” The EU should establish a new frontier on the northern border of Greece, because an agreement with Turkey will not be enough to stop hundreds of thousands of migrants from coming to Europe, as the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said. “I think the next line of defense that we need to build up, lies on the northern border of Greece,”108 is the public radio statement of Orban during an interview, also reported by Kathimerini109, Skai110, tvxs111, Euro2day112, Avgi113 and the Press Project114. He said

108 ‘EU should erect new Greek frontier to stop migrants, Hungarian PM says’, eKathimerini, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/204873/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-should-erect-new- greek-frontier-to-stop-migrants-hungarian-pm-says 109 Ibid. 110 ‘Orban: New defense line in Northern boarders of Greece to control migrants’, Skai, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/303707/orban-nea-grammi-amunas-sta-voreia- sunora-tis-elladas-gia-elegho-ton-metanaston-/ 111 ‘Orban requests a new defense line in Greece Northern borders’, tvxs, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/nea-grammi-amynas-sta-boreia-synora-tis-elladas-zita-o-ormpan 112 ‘Orban: EU to erect borders with Greece’, Euro2day, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/economy/article/1389214/ormpan-h-ee-na-valei-synora-sthn-ellada.html 113 ‘Orban: next defense line in Greece’s Northern borders’, Avgi, 8 Jan.2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6165366/ormpan-i-epomeni-grammi-amunas-sta-boreia-sunora-tis-elladas 114 ‘Orban: Northern Greece’s borders, the defense line of Europe’, The Press Project, 8 Jan.2016, available at https://www.thepressproject.gr/article/87206/Ormpan-Ta-boreia-sunora-tis-Elladas- grammi-amunas-tis-Europis

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Bulgaria should be adopted into the EU's border-free Schengen zone, while FYROM should be given financial support and other assistance so it could beef up its defenses. Articles reproducing Hungarian PM’s statements on Greek ‘frontier’ against migrants are of profound WJ-orientation. First of all, they are elite-oriented stories, merely reproducing and giving further publicity to a leading (political) figure’s statements. They adopt an ‘us versus them’ and zero-sum game approach; PM’s comment “Budapest will never consent to repercussions against Poland” not only reveals his mentality regarding the refugee crisis but also a competitive approach towards EU affairs. The article’s use of language, with phrases like “next line of defense” and “beef up defenses” only serves the purpose of dehumanizing individuals. At the same time, refugees are presented as if they constitute some sort of “unstoppable” threat to the EU and Hungary, hence readers’ fear is indirectly invoked. Additionally, there is no analysis or context, the only focus is on visible actions and outcomes: veto and “defense” are expected to produce ‘results’, but give no answers to the conflict’s ‘why’ or solutions to its route causes.

Lesvos: Mysterious Briton sets up illegal makeshift mosque A Briton of Muslim faith, reportedly volunteer in an NGO on Lesvos, set up a makeshift mosque inside a tent at 5km from Moria hotspot, according to Ethnos115, iefimerida116 and Euro2day117, announcing that it is the first mosque on the island after 300 years. A formal investigation has been launched as the man in question had not contacted the authorities to obtain a license.

Lesvos: Briton that set up makeshift mosque, disappears from island Shortly after media started reporting on the Briton who set up the makeshift mosque close to the Moria hotspot and the local prosecutor launched a formal investigation, the man in question who has been portrayed on social media with members of the Islamic NGO One Nation, carrying heavy guns and making the ISIS salutation, has reportedly left Lesvos island. The news was covered by local news- portals118.

115 Maria Ritzaleou, ‘Mysterious Briton set up an illegal mosque in Lesvos’, Ethnos, 14 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/o_mystiriodis_agglos_pou_estise_paranomo_tzami_sti_lesbo- 64315971/ 116 ‘Mysterious Briton set up an illegal mosque in Lesvos - Prosecutor Intervention’, iefimerida, 14 Jan.2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/245531/mystiriodis-vretanos-estise-paranomo- tzami-sti-lesvo-paremvasi-tis-eisaggelias-eikones#axzz4hKd6jt8q 117 ‘Mysterious Briton set up an illegal mosque in Lesvos’, Euro2day, 14 Jan.2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/highlights/article-news/1390828/o-mysthriodhs-agglos-poy-esthse- paranomo-tzami-sth.html 118 ‘Mosque inside a migrants’ camp in Moria (video)’, Lesvos News, 14 Jan.2016, available at http://bit.ly/2pWcY2J , ‘The Briton who set up the mosque in Moria disappeared – he was posting his photos on Facebook with ISIS flag and guns’, Lesvos Post, 15 Jan.2016, available at http://www.lesvospost.com/2016/01/isis-facebook.html

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Those are two different stories on the same topic, presenting the set-up of a makeshift mosque in Lesvos and the disappearing of the creator. Reading them in combination, they present a few war journalism elements. They are ‘us versus them’ articles which, at the same time, propagate for ‘us’; journalists clearly take sides when sides when presenting the story and the ‘suspect’s’ interview. An individual’s personal story (inconsistent or not) is mixed with the general freedom of religious expression. There is no reference to refugees who might be seeking for a place to pray and their possible complaints for not having one or their opinion regarding the erection of a makeshift one (which might as well be perceived as intimidating for their own faith). The story is also presented under a zero-sum perspective, the goal being the mosque to seize existing. Focus on legislation, regulations and the need for the municipality “to know in advance” is used as a pretext for opposing the mosque’s creation. All in all, those are two reactive stories, waiting for violence to occur before reporting. The individual is presented as one possessing guns and accused of performing ISIS greeting. Expression of religious sentiment is intentionally mixed with individual behavior; the underlying message being that erecting a mosque could lead to outburst of violence.

Archbishop of Athens: ‘the refugee crisis will last half a century’ Speaking from Ioannina, the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Ieronymos said that the refugee/migration problem would most probably last at least half a century. He then criticized the role of NGOs involved in the management of the refugee crisis saying that half of them do other things than save lives. The Head of the Greek Church noted that it is not easy to have Muslims integrated while he expressed fears of having them “trapped” in Greece. On the contribution of Greeks, he stressed that both the gov’t and the people have largely offered help. The story was reported by Skai119, E-kriti120 and Newsbomb121. This article is an interview of the Athens and all Greece Archbishop regarding the refugee crisis. WJ elements include the focus on visible effects; discussion revolves around the total number of refugees in Greece and whether this is something ‘acceptable’. The interview is elite-oriented, with the journalist merely reproducing the Archbishop’s statements, without challenging or giving broader context. An ‘us versus them’ approach is also evident through the relevant texts. Refugees are presented as a homogeneous group, participating in planned events against countries/populations. The implication regarding their presence in Greece being

119 ‘Ieronimos: the refugee crisis will last at least half a century’, Skai, 23 Jan.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/305068/ieronumos-to-prosfugiko-tha-diarkesei-toulahiston- miso-aiona-/ 120 ‘Ieronimos: We are experiencing refugees’ agony and tragedy’, e-kriti, 23 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ekriti.gr/ellada/ieronymos-zoyme-tin-agonia-kai-tin-tragodia-ton- prosfygon#sthash.f5dkbzHg.kVedZlPh.dpbs 121 ‘Ieronimos: We are experiencing refugees’ agony and tragedy’, Newsbomb, 24 Jan.2016, available at http://www.newsbomb.gr/ellada/ekklhsia/story/663348/arxiepiskopos-zoyme-tin-agonia-kai-tin- tragodia-ton-prosfygon

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that they will be a source of trouble. The language used is offensive and only makes simplistic descriptions. Furthermore, the articles do not answer any “why” questions for any of the claims they make. This way, they only contribute towards establishing negative attitude towards refugees, especially Muslims, “who are difficult to integrate”.

EU warns Greece could be sealed off from Schengen zone over its handling of refugee crisis The EU executive report found "serious deficiencies"122 in Greece's management of the external EU borders. European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the report, based on inspections carried out from 10 to 13 November 2015 at the Greek-Turkish land border as well as the islands of Chios and Samos, showed Greece had "seriously neglected" its obligations to fellow Schengen states. Among the problems, it cited inadequate procedures for recording, fingerprinting and inspecting the documents of refugees and migrants, and no connection with data from European services, such as Interpol. "If the necessary action is not being taken and deficiencies persist, there is a possibility to allow member states to temporarily close their borders," Dombrovskis told a news briefing. If the Commission's conclusions are confirmed by a majority of the 26 Schengen states, he continued, the European Commission will then recommend remedial procedures, giving Greece three months in which to comply. Ert123, Amna,124 To Vima125, Skai126, CNN Greece127, Iefimerida128, Huffington Post129, Newsbomb130, Imerisia131, Ta Nea132, Kathimerini133 are only a

122 European Commission – Press Release ‘Commission discusses draft Schengen Evaluation Report on Greece’, Brussels, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-174_en.htm 123 Betty Savourdou, ‘Report of ‘fire’ for Greece – Threats to recall Schengen agreement (vid)’, ERT, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/ekthesi-fotia-gia-tin-ellada-apiles-gia-anastoli-tis-sengken-vid- o-gerovasili-ellada-xeperna-ton-eafto-tis-gia-na-tirisi-tis-ipochreosis-tis/ 124 ‘European Commission accepts report that Greece ‘seriously neglected’ Schengen obligations’, AMNA, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/english/article/12669/European-Commission- accepts-report-that-Greece-seriously-neglected-Schengen-obligations 125 ‘A shocking report of the Commission concerning Greece and the Schengen agreement – Greece is overcoming itself respond the government’, To Vima, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=772205 126 ‘The Schengen evaluation report ’ 127 ‘The are ‘firing’ Greece in the Commission college’, CNN Greece, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/politiki/story/19733/pyrovoloyn-tin-ellada-sto-kollegio-ton-epitropon 128 ‘Commission is threatening us of Schengen exit – Tsipras responds’, iefimerida, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/248001/h-komision-mas-apeilei-me-exodo-apo-tin-sengken- o-tsipras-antepitithetai#axzz4hKd6jt8q 129 ‘Report ‘shock’ for Greece with Commission warning about borders closure. What Greece should do in the following three months’, Huffington Post, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2016/01/27/politiki-commission-greece-_n_9087480.html 130 ‘Alarm bell for the permanence of Greece within the Schengen Zone’, Newsbomb, 28 Jan.2016, available at http://www.newsbomb.gr/kosmos/news/story/664748/kodonas-kindynoy-gia-tin-paramoni- tis-elladas-entos-zonis-sengken 131 ‘Striking Report and threat of exit from the Schengen zone’, Imerisia, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26509&subid=2&pubid=113900806 132 Peloni Aristotelia, ‘Ultimatum for Greece exit from Schengen’, Ta Nea, 28 Jan.2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/politics/article/5330132/telesigrafo-sthn-ellada-gia-eksodo-apo-th-sengken/ 133 ‘Greece ‘seriously neglected’ Schengen border duties, Commission finds’, eKathimerini, 27 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/205464/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-seriously- neglected-schengen-border-duties-commission-finds

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sample of the numerous international and national newspapers who covered this particular story. Those articles make reference to EU Commission’s Vice-President statements vis-à-vis Greece handling of the EU crisis. They are WJ-oriented for a number of reasons. First, they are elite-oriented journalism, only presenting the opinion of a prominent EU politician. It is to be noted that the articles’ content, topic and sensationalist presentation made it possible to gather great publicity. An ‘us versus them’ approach is propagated, with the refugee crisis directly presented as a threat to the EU and its regulations (Schengen zone). Continuation of the crisis (and the threat) could lead to part of the ‘acquis’ being suspended, eliciting very negative response towards refugees. In addition, no context is given and no ‘why’ questions are answered; there is only reference to institutional arrangements and “punishment” for countries not abiding by them. Time and space are closed; Mr. Dombrovskis stresses that a solution needs to be found within the next three months. In general, the article gives the impression of a ‘ticking bomb’ regarding the crisis, leaving no room for alternatives.

February 2016 Tension escalates on Kos Island Following last Friday’s (5/2) tension, approximately 100 locals gathered Saturday morning at the entrance of the hotspot under construction blocking the access to the Brigadier General. Others spotted SYRIZA MP Ilias Kamateros at a local coffee shop and moved against him. Some stormed in and moved threateningly against the MP, but the calmer ones intervened. Controversy continued on Sunday (7/2) with Kos Mayor Giorgos Kyritsis appealing to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to intervene and defuse the situation after the clashes on the island. He asked that the Prime Minister order the withdrawal of MAT riot police troops from Kos in order to avoid a further escalation of tensions and violence and for the government to revoke the decision to set up a hotspot on the island. The Mayor asked the government to discuss the municipality's proposal that Kos should only have a single area for registering irregular migrants and refugees, with those registered departing within 24 hours. “There is a real danger that we will mourn victims and be led to uncontrollable situations. I ask the government to accept the only realistic and socially acceptable proposal submitted by the municipality,” Kyritsis said. On Sunday evening, a group of locals attacked riot police officers near Pyli throwing molotov bombs and stones. The Kos violent events were covered by the vast majority of Greek media;

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Skai134, Ethnos135, Capital136, Proto Thema137, Enikos138, Ert139, Lifo140, Kathimerini141, News247142, In.gr143, CNN Greece144, Kosnews24145 and Dimokratiki146 wrote on them. Events themselves, thus, were extensively covered; however, war journalism elements dominated relevant articles. The focus is largely on visible violence and material damages, without exploring hidden cultural violence and actors’ motives. Fighting is in the spotlight and articles about the incident are all very brief and superficial, only highlighting tensions and not analyzing conflict origins, causes and context. Only interviews with prominent figures are presented (MP and Mayor), people who incited violence are not given the chance to voice their potential concerns. Media preference for negativity, violence, sensationalism is evident. A local protest by few individuals is presented as a major event, reproduced by all media. The ‘us-versus-them’ narrative is quite evident as well; news stories lead us to believe that the opening of a hotspot is the single reason motivating protests. The hotspot will either operate or not, an example of zero-sum game. It should be noted that the way those articles were written might invoke negative responses and attitude in similar future cases. The connection is very subtle but simple: all it takes is just government plans of opening a hotspot in a location to create tensions and problems. Imagine what would happen when one actually opens. Especially Kos Mayor’s interview is a good example of war journalism; a prominent citizen presents his views on islands’ “hotspots as a pull-over refugees

134 Giannis Charamidis, ‘Tensions today again in Kos’, Skai, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/306316/kai-simera-edasi-stin-ko-/#ixzz3zVzhgvsJ 135 ‘New tension in Kos for the construction of a hotspot’, Ethnos, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/nea_entasi_stin_ko_gia_tin_kataskeui_tou_hot_spot-64327095/ 136 ‘Tension in Kos over the hotspot’, Capital 137 ‘From Syndos until Kos, chaos for the hotspots’, Proto Thema, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/551006/kos-kleinoun-oi-katoikoi-ti-prosvasi-sto-stratopedo- pou-tha-ginei-hot-spot-/ 138 ‘Tension in Kos – They closed the road for the camp with rocks’, Enikos, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.enikos.gr/society/368961/entasi-stin-ko-ekleisan-to-dromo-pros-to-stratopedo-me-vraxous- photo 139 Kalliopi Ververoglou ‘Tensions in Kos – Protest against the construction of hotspot’, Ert, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/entasi-stin-ko-diamartiria-kata-tis-dimiourgias-hotspot-vid/ 140 ‘Tensions and incidents from outraged residents of Kos’, Lifo, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/88968 141 ‘Construction work for hotspot in Kos were marked with incidents’, Kathimerini, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/848293/article/epikairothta/ellada/h-enar3h-ergasiwn-gia- hotspot-sthn-kw-stigmatisthke-apo-epeisodia 142 ‘New videos from Kos tensions’, News247, 7 Feb.2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/epistolh-toy-dhmarxoy-kw-pros-ton-prwthypoyrgo-na-anaklhthei- h-apofash-gia-ta-hot-spot.3895721.html 143 ‘Tensions in Kos over hotspot, reactions also in Delta Municipality’, In.gr, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://news.in.gr/greece/article/?aid=1500056441 144 ‘Kos: New tension for the hotspots –Residents complain to a Syriza MP’, CNN Greece, 7 Feb.2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/20841/kos-nea-entasi-gia-ta-hot-spot-katoikoi- diamartyrontai-se-voyleyti-toy-syriza 145 ‘They trapped for more than a couple of hours Elias Kamatero in a seaside cafe’, Kosnews24, 7 Feb.2016, available at https://www.kosnews24.gr/koinwnika/item/227058-entasi-stin-ko-egklovisan- ton-i-kamatero-se-paraliaki-kafeteria 146 Dimitra-Marilia Furla, ‘Kos Mayor explains: “why we don’t want a hotspot in the island”’, Dimokratiki, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://www.dimokratiki.gr/08-02-2016/o-dimarchos-ko-exigi- giati-den-theloume-hot-spot-sto-nisi/

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factor”, uses aggressive language while discussing on the issue and assumptions like “some want to create tension on the island, even cause deaths”. His ‘us versus them’ approach on all levels (local against central government, local residents versus refugees, hotspots versus tourism and peaceful co-existence) goes unchallenged and generates both further publicity and animosity.

Bank of Greece: migration/refugee crisis will cost the country at least 600 million euros in 2016 According Huffington Post147, CNN Greece148, Proto Thema149, Antenna150 and other portals, a report that was drafted by the governor of the Bank of Greece, Yannis Stournaras, and presented to the European Central Bank’s General Council on December 17, states “the continuation/worsening of the [refugee] crisis adds a downside risk factor to the Greek economy’s outlook”. The report compiles existing research on the economic effects of the refugee flows to demonstrate the risks the crisis poses for Greece. The increased public spending to absorb the thousands of refugees arriving on Greece’s shores every day will amount to at least 0.3 percent of GDP in 2016, or 600 million euros. These expenses will force difficult tradeoffs since they occur “at a time of strict fiscal retrenchment,” as the report notes. The report also observes that the massive influx of asylum seekers, the majority of whom are Syrian, has been particularly disruptive to the tourism industry on Greece’s islands and to international trade, which relies on unfettered access to Greek sea lanes. Meanwhile, as a growing number of neighboring countries close their borders to asylum seekers coming through Greece, it is likely many more refugees will remain in the country, which means the government will also incur expenses to ensure their semi-permanent housing, food and health care. Bank of Greece report and the way it is presented is a good WJ example. The report exclusively focuses on negative, visible outcomes and more specifically the fiscal side-effect of refugee crisis. If follows an unbalanced approach; positive side- effects are unaccounted for (eg decrease in unemployment due to new positions in sites, local economy revitalizing due to the funds received by EU, international NGOs and the UN). Use of language is quite aggressive, with one of the titles being “Shocking Report” on refugee crisis financial impact. What’s more, the ‘why’ part is entirely missing; there is no explanation for the mechanisms leading to the report’s negative side-effects.

147 Daniel Marans, ‘Greece’s Economy is getting crushed between austerity and the refugee crisis’, Huffington Post, 3 Feb.2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/greece-refugee-crisis- economy_us_56b12f1de4b04f9b57d7b7d4 148 ‘600 million euros the fiscal debt for the refugee crisis’, CNN Greece, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/oikonomia/story/20743/ta-600-ekat-eyro-tha-aggixei-to-dimosionomiko-kostos-toy- prosfygikoy 149 ‘Bank of Greece report: 600 million euros will be the cost for the refugee crisis’, Proto Thema, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/economy/article/551029/ekthesi-tte-sta-600-ekat-euro- to-etisio-kostos-tou-prosfugikou/ 150‘Shocking Stournara report for the consequences of the refugee crisis’, Antenna, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ant1news.gr/news/Economy/article/435448/ekthesi-sok-stoyrnara-gia-tis-epiptoseis-apo- to-prosfygiko

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There’s indirect blaming of refugees, highlighting that 1/3 of savings from taxation and pension funds cuts will need to be directed towards facing the refugee crisis. Greek tax-payers are presented as the ones funding the response to crisis, so negative responses are elicited. On a financial version of ‘us versus them’ approach, it is deducted that refugees to stay in Greece will be causing additional problems, due to the negative, long-term financial implications for the country’s health system, housing and alimentation.

Turkey threatened to flood Europe with refugees, as revealed in leaked transcripts of November’s negotiations An internal EU memo published by the Greek online news portal euro2day.gr151 reveals the Turkish blackmail on the refugee crisis. The memo contains a summary of the dialogue between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk on November 16 during the G20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey. The three Presidents were discussing the Action Plan to tackle the refugee crisis. According to the memo, the bargain was hard and Turkey demanded 30 billion euros from the EU in order to refrain from sending refugees and migrants to Europe through Greece. EU’s offer was 3 billion euros in two years, but Erdoğan demanded 3 billion euros per year. In addition, Ankara threatened, that if the EU does not link the refugee issue to Turkey’s EU accession, then it would send buses full of refugees to Europe via Greece and Bulgaria and would let 10,000-15,000 refugees drown on its shores. Erdoğan apparently complained that “the EU treated Turkey like a fool for 53 years and did not allow it to become full EU member” comparing Luxembourg (Juncker’s native country) with the size of a small Turkish town. He also claimed that “Greece received 400 billion euro from Europe” during the economic crisis and that in fact Turkey should get a huge amount of money too. In addition to euro2day’s article, the story was also covered by Proto Thema152, Skai153, tvxs154, Newsbomb155, to Vima156 and Athens Voice. All of the articles were based on leaked transcripts, no background research seems to have been done regarding either the context or facts themselves. Furthermore, the articles reproduce a discussion presenting refugee crisis as the bargaining tool on politician’s hands, on a zero sum and

151 Aggeliki Papamiltiadou, ‘Hard game on Greece’s shoulder’, Euro2day, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/economy/article/1397081/hontro-paihnidi-sth-plath-ths-elladas.html 152 ‘Erdogan threatened to put refugees on buses and send them to Greece and Bulgaria’, Proto Thema, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://en.protothema.gr/erdogan-threatened-to-put-refugees-on-buses-and-send- them-to-greece-and-bulgaria/ 153 ‘Shocking Erdogan negotiations for the refugee situation in Greece’, Skai, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/306492/sokaroun-oi-diloseis-erdogan-gia-prosfugiko-kai- ellada/#ixzz3zeZAI1G1 154 ‘Classified documents: How Erdogan threatens Europe’, tvxs, 9 Feb.2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/eyropi-eop/aporrita-eggrafa-pos-o-erntogan-ekbiazei-tin-ee 155 ‘The sultan is threatening: we will send refugees with buses in Greece’, Newsbomb, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://www.newsbomb.gr/kosmos/news/story/668202/o-soyltanos-apeilei-tha-steiloyme- toys-prosfyges-me-leoforeia-stin-ellada 156 ‘Erdogan seems to threaten Europe with refugees flows’, To Vima, 8 Feb.2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=775121

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very evident ‘us versus them’ approach. Focus is on visible results; refugee flows and financial assistance are the two visible outcomes, which at the same time are used on a trade-off basis during negotiations. There is no reference to individual stories or dealing with refugee flows ‘why’. Last but not least, articles’ language (copied from the report?) seems to be indirectly aggressive, in line with the ‘negotiation’s’ context. The impression here is that refugee lives don’t count, unless they can be used as trade-offs.

Head of pig and cross reportedly hanged on fence outside Schisto relocation center The head of a pig, a Christian cross and a sign reading “Greece belongs to Virgin Mary, the patron Saint of Greeks” were reportedly hanged on the barbed-wire fence of the new relocation center in Schisto after relevant photos were posted online. The police that was called to the spot, did not find any of the above. It is alleged that either they were hanged to take photos and then removed or that the barbaric act took place somewhere else but was said to have been in Schisto. This story was reported by Skai157, Newsit158, iefimerida159, ta Nea160, To Pontiki161 and four more media. All of the articles focused on visible outcomes; primarily the pig head and secondarily the text accompanying it. Questions posed were “who is to blame” and “what measures will be taken in future”. Additionally, all of the articles come with very negative connotations and phrases like “shock”, “unbelievable act” etc. It seems that articles were basically reproducing police reports and internet posts, with no background research or journalistic field presence. Their language elicits negative response towards refugees, since again here the underlying message is: refugee sites create problems even prior to their opening.

157 ‘New Democracy asked about the head of a pig hanged in a relocation center’, Skai, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/307961/erotisi-nd-gia-ti-gourounokefali-pou- kremasan-sto-kedro-metegatastasis/#ixzz411mEcW2t 158 ‘Photo-document: they hanged a pig head in Schisto hotspot!’, Newsit, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.newsit.gr/ellada/Eikones-ntokoymento-Kremasan-goyroynokefali-sto-hot-spot-sto- Sxisto/587273 159 ‘Shocking images: they impaled a pig-head in Schisto hotspot!’, iefimerida, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/252556/eikones-sok-karfosan-goyroynokefali-sto-hotspot-toy-shistoy- eikones#axzz4hKd6jt8q 160 ‘The head of a pig is believed to be hanged by unknown individuals in the entrance of Schisto hotspot’, Ta Nea, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5337144/karfwsan- goyronokefalh-sthn-eisodo-toy-hotspot-sto-sxismo/ 161 ‘They hanged a head of pig in Schisto hotspot - “They are humanoid reptiles crawling in the ground”’, To Pontiki, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.topontiki.gr/article/160751/kremasan-goyroynokefali- sto-hotspot-toy-shistoy-einai-anthropoeidi-erpeta-poy

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Bottleneck and tension in Eidomeni AMNA162, Ethnos163, Proto Thema164, Kathimerini165, Lifo166, iefimerida167, To Vima168, Skai169, tvxs170, Typos Thessalonikis171 and many other local, national and international newspapers covered the tensions running high at the border after four Balkan countries (FYROM, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia) announced Friday (26/2) a daily cap on refugee arrivals (580 Iraqis and Syrians per day). About 400 refugees in the buffer zone protested on Saturday (27/2), demanding that FYROM authorities let them in. On the next day, refugees blocked the railway tracks in Eidomeni. Some held up handwritten posters that read "Open the borders, no food" and "We are humans, not animals". According to police, roughly 6,500 refugees were left stranded in Eidomeni camp on Sunday afternoon (28/2). Shortly after 9pm Sunday evening, FYROM authorities opened again the crossing point to only 305 Syrians and Iraqis. However, the border closed again at around 4am on Monday, leaving approximately 7,000 people stranded on the Greek side. In addition, FYROM authorities sent back to Greece 10 people from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The situation is growing increasingly tense during the past hours as refugees have broken through police lines and are headed towards the border attempting to tear down the fence. There were rumours that borders opened for all refugees and migrants. Some started throwing stones to FYROM officers, who responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Doctors of the World have already provided medical care to 15 people, including 9 children, suffering respiratory problems, as well as three children with wounds following scuffles with police officers.

162 ‘Refugees block the railway tracks at Idomeni’, AMNA, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/english/article/13006/Refugees-block-the-railway-tracks-at-Idomeni 163 ‘The borders on idomeni opened for 400 refugees’, Ethnos, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/anoiksan_gia_400_prosfyges_ta_synora_stin_eidomeni- 64337966/ 164 ‘Chaos in Idomeni: the borders opened only for 400 people’, Proto Thema, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/557123/anoixe-ligo-prin-tis-9-to-vradu-i-eidomeni-gia-400- prosfuges/ 165 ‘Refugees blocked the trailway in Idomeni’, Kathimerini, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/851293/article/epikairothta/ellada/apokleismos-ths-sidhrodromikhs- grammhs-sthn-eidomenh-apo-prosfyges 166 ‘6500 refugees in Idomeni today – Borders open only for 400 people’, Lifo, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/91576 167 ‘Refugees blocked again the train-rail in Idomeni – “Open the borders, they shout”’, iefimerida, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/253565/prosfyges-apekleisan-xana-ti- sidirodromiki-grammi-stin-eidomeni-anoixte-ta-synora#axzz4hKd6jt8q 168 ‘Tensions at Idomeni as refugees break through police lines’, To Vima, 29 Feb.2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=780696 169 ‘More and more dramatic the situation in Idomeni’, Skai, 29 Feb.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/308412/olo-kai-pio-dramatiki-i-katastasi-stin-eidomeni/ 170 ‘7,000 refugees are waiting in Idomeni – 1,800 refugees and migrants in Piraeus (vid)’, tvxs, 29 Feb.2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/stin-anamoni-7000-prosfyges-stin-eidomeni-ston- peiraia-eftasan-1800-prosfyges-kai-metana 171 ‘Idomeni: 7,000 trapped, the borders closed again’, Typos Thessalonikis, 29 Feb.2016, available at http://www.typosthes.gr/gr/topika/article/91895/eidomeni-eglovismenoi-peripou-7000-prosfuges- ekleisan-kai-pali-ta-sunora/

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This is a collection of articles regarding tension in Eidomeni, following the closure of the border with FYROM. Abundance of WJ elements can be spotted in all relevant stories. The us versus them’ approach and blame game are at their high, with all parties openly blaming others for the current condition: refugees blame Greece, Greece blames FYROM, FYROM blames Serbia and all of them the EU. All articles are written in a way that promotes negativity. The situation is presented as a self- perpetuating one and no solution seems to exist. Negativity, though, helps gain publicity, with the story being literally everywhere in the news. Articles’ approach is quite unbalanced, with refugee protests merely described as counter-measures. No context analysis and no ‘why’ questions are being investigated into via field research. Only visible outcomes are being presented, with the cap on refugee passages lying at the center of attention (and at the same time implied to be the problem’s cause).

Refugee crisis seen damaging tourism The uncontrolled flow of refugees and migrants to Greece, as reported by Kathimerini172, Skai173, Proto Thema174, Newsbomb175, To Vima176 and others, is putting such pressure on Greek tourism that is reportedly posing a direct threat to the national economy. The cancellation of hotel reservations and flight bookings, as well as the reduction in scheduled routes by cruise companies for this tourism season, are the first tangible consequences for the island destinations that are bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis. Hoteliers stress that unless the situation changes, a chain reaction will affect the revenues of local enterprises and then the national economy and employment. Speaking at the general meeting of the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE), head Andreas Andreadis noted that the solidarity shown by the majority of islanders might be unique and certainly helps the image of the country abroad, but the state should find real and applicable solutions immediately safeguarding local communities and tourist destinations. Destinations in the eastern Aegean are already suffering great pressure, seeing only last-minute bookings. Lesvos Hoteliers Association President Periklis Antoniou told Kathimerini daily that the decline in bookings for this season reaches up to 90 percent from some markets, and that the association sent a letter to Economy Minister Giorgos Stathakis and other Ministers on Friday (26/2) asking them to take immediate measures to

172 ‘Migration crisis seen damaging tourism’, Kathimerini, 26 Feb.2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/206409/article/ekathimerini/business/migration-crisis-seen-damaging- tourism 173 ‘Serious damages on tourism’, Skai, 27 Feb.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/finance/article/308324/simadika-ta-pligmata-pou-dehetai-o-tourismos- /#ixzz41UvAIzp1 174 ‘Tourism is “sinking”: A huge amount of pre-bookings in Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos have been cancelled’, Proto Thema, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/travelling/article/556821/ishuro-pligma-gia-ton-tourismo-kato-90-oi- prokratiseis-stin-lesvo-ptosi-60-stin-hio/ 175 ‘Refugee Crisis: a catastrophe for tourism’, Newsbomb, 27 Feb.2016, available at http://www.newsbomb.gr/oikonomia/news/story/673880/katastrofi-gia-ton-toyrismo-to-prosfygiko 176 Christina Poutetsi, ‘Tourism is in the shadow of the refugee crisis’, To Vima, 28 Feb.2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/finance/article/?aid=780289

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strengthen the local economy, such as cutting value-added tax by 50 percent. Meanwhile, bookings for Kos island have recorded a 35% decline, with Chios island reporting a more important loss (60%). This is a news story on the damaging effect of refugee crisis in Greece tourism industry. Articles’ use of language is quite aggressive, with phrases like “direct threat to the national economy”, “bearing the brunt of refugee crisis” being used in a very negative way. Only visible results seem to be taken into consideration, mainly reservations decrease. All of the stories take an unbalanced approach, focusing on ‘our’ plight; and with no consideration regarding refugee’s plight or problems they might be facing during their stay at the islands (which is against their own will). The ‘why’ part is completely missing, with no clear explanation for the assumption that drop in reservations is due to refugee crisis and refugees’ presence on islands.

March 2016 Slovak Premier: “there will be a single hotspot called Greece” Ethnos177, Kathimerini178, iefimerida179, tvxs180 and Ta Nea featured articles about the Slovak PM. Threatened by his opponents ahead of the upcoming elections on Sunday, Robert Fico accused the Greek Premier Alexis Tsipras for having “brought the crisis upon himself for failing to set up EU-mandated processing centers.” “We have come to the time when Greece is likely to be sacrificed for the good of the EU,” Robert Fico said while adding that “there will be a single hotspot and its name will be Greece.” One of the articles featuring the Slovak PM’s statements is titled “Unethical Challenge”, but there are also phrases like “Greece should be sacrificed for the EU’s benefit”, “there will be a single hotspot called Greece”. In general, language used is very offensive and extends the already tense atmosphere described in the texts, with refugees themselves characterized as “speculators”. There’s a clear ‘us versus them’ approach in the stories: Greece against the EU, Slovakia against Greece and refugees against ‘our’ security and well-being is only a few of the examples. Focus is only on visible results and more specifically on what needs to be done in order to restrict refugee flows. Those are essentially elite-oriented journalism pieces securitizing refugee crisis; the Slovak PM’s comments are merely reproduced and words like “danger” and “threat” are used in order to rationalize a security-based approach and intervention. It is to be noted that articles’ negativity (towards refugees, the PM, Greece and the situation at Eidomeni) helped produce a lot of publicity.

177 V. Ignatiadis, ‘Obscene provocation of Slovak Premier’, Ethnos, 3 March 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/politiki/arthro/xydaia_proklisi_tou_slobakou_prothypourgou-64339951/ 178 Giorgos Terzis, ‘Brutal attack of New Democracy party to Slovak Premier’, Kathimerini, 3 March 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/851706/article/epikairothta/politikh/sfodrh-epi8esh-nd- ston-slovako-prw8ypoyrgo 179 ‘Slovak Premier: Greece should be sacrificed for EU’s wellbeing’, iefimerida, 2 March2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/254234/slovakos-prothypoyrgos-i-ellada-na-thysiastei-gia-kalo-tis- ee#axzz4hKd6jt8q 180 ‘Slovak Premier provokes “there will be a single hotspot: Greece”’, tvxs, 2 March 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/prokalei-o-slobakos-prothypoyrgos-tha-yparxei-monon-ena-hot-spot-i-ellada

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Czech President: Greece could pay debts by hosting refugee centers Greece could pay off its debts by hosting refugee centres181, giving Europe another option in tackling the crisis, Czech President Milos Zeman said in an interview with Czech TV channel Prima. "Detention centres would be built on Greek islands to where migrants from Europe would be deported and Greece would, by maintaining these detention centres, pay its otherwise uncollectible foreign debt," he said. Zeman has limited policymaking power at today’s EU-Turkey summit; he has been outspoken on the refugee issue suggesting that the integration of Muslim communities is "practically impossible" and calling the influx an "organised invasion". This news story is about Czech PM’s statements regarding a possible linking of Greek public debt and hosting of refugee centers. War journalism elements are evident, with the story being elite-oriented and with no background analysis or context. There’s underlying negativity regarding refugees; Greece is asked to contain them in islands in order for them not to reach the EU. Focus is on visible outcomes, namely the number of refugees in EU and Greek public debt. Phrases like “integrating Muslim communities is practically impossible” and refugee flows “an organized intrusion”, elicit further negative approach and response towards refugees.

Pella: unknown individuals throw pigs’ heads into army camp aimed at hosting refugees This is a similar to February’s story on unknown individuals throwing pigs’ heads into the army camp “Doumtsa Margarity” in Skydra, in Pella, to turn it into an infected – for Muslims – area, avoiding thus the accommodation of refugees. It featured on CNN Greece182, The Press Project183, Ta Nea184, Efimerida ton Syntakton185.

181 ‘Debt decrease with the creation of detention centers for migrants in Greece’, Skai, 6 March 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/politics/article/309005/zeman-metanastes-adi-hreous-i-lusi-gia- tin-ellada/#ixzz429VMNXQY 182 Elena Karamagkali, ‘Pellas MP about head of pigs: these extremities were coordinated by the same center’, CNN Greece, 5 March 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/24131/voyleytis- pellas-gia-tis-goyroynokefales-syntonismenes-apo-eniaio-kentro-oi-akrotites 183 ‘Pellas is again stage of evident racist actions’, The Press Project, 5 March 2016, available at https://www.thepressproject.gr/article/90491/Theatro-protofanon-ratsistikon-energeion-kai-pali-i-Pella 184 ‘They threw pig heads in Pellas camp to avoid refugees to go’, Ta Nea, 5 March 2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5340564/pella-petaksan-goyroynokefales-se-stratopedo-gia- na-mhn-pane-prosfyges/ 185 ‘Pig-heads in Doumtsa Margariti camp in Skydra’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 5 March 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/goyroynokefales-sto-stratopedo-doymtsa-margariti-sti-skydra

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Pig’s head thrown outside refugee center in northern Greece Iefimerida186, Antenna187, Skai188, Tvxs189 and ta Nea190 reported on an angry crowd, headed by a local priest, that gathered outside an army camp near the town of Veria, northern Greece, to express opposition to the arrival of migrants and refugees. There were angry scenes when six buses carrying refugees arrived at the camp on Friday evening (25/3). Riot police was deployed to create a security cordon between the protesters and the refugees. At least two pig heads were thrown against the latter. Much of the local anger was directed at the local SYRIZA lawmaker Giorgos Oursounidis, who was also at the scene. Some of the protesters said that there might be jihadists among refugees to be temporarily hosted in their area. Local volunteer groups, associations, teachers visited the camp on Sunday (27/03) to show their support and solidarity to the refugees. Those are two events regarding throwing of pig heads at refugee accommodation sites. Both stories only revolve around the pig heads (visible results). Questions posed are “who is to blame” and whether refugees will still populate the sites. There is no analysis regarding the ‘why’ other than “throwing pig heads turns the sites into infected for Muslim areas”. Negativity and sensationalism are evident, with all articles referring to tension and negativity due to refugees’ arrival. It is not surprising that those stories gathered big publicity, with even their use of language eliciting negative response towards refugees, some of them thought to be “jihadists”.

Bulgaria says ready to erect fence on border with Greece Bulgaria is ready to build a fence on its border with Greece to keep out refugees, as Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said and recorded by Skai191, tvxs192, Ert193, Naftemporiki194. "The main threat is coming from the Greek border," Borisov told the Parliament. "It is very long and unprotected, and our concern is that the Greek government did not take measures in recent months. We are ready to erect a barrier if

186 ‘They attempted to lynch Syriza MP because of refugees (photos)’, iefimerida, 25 March 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/258661/veroia-pigan-na-lintsaroyn-voyleyti-toy-syriza- logo-ton-prosfygon-eikones#axzz4hKd6jt8q 187 ‘Incidents in Veria for refugees relocation (video)’, Antenna, 26 March 2016, available at http://www.ant1news.gr/news/Society/article/439601/epeisodia-stin-beroia-gia-ti-metegkatastasi- prosfygon-binteo- 188 ‘Veria: Syriza MP found refuge in riot police vehicle’, Skai, 26 March 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/310767/veroia-se-klouva-ton-mat-vrike-katafugio-vouleutis- tou-suriza-/ 189 ‘Tension in Veria for the refugee camp – They have thrown pig-heads’, tvxs, 26 March 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/entasi-sti-beroia-gia-kentro-prosfygon-petaksan-goyroynokefali-binteo 190 ‘Rumors flare up the rage’, Ta Nea, 28 March 2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5346139/oi-fhmes-foyntwsan-to-potami-ths-orghs/ 191 ‘Bulgaria erect fence in its borders with Greece’, Skai, 25 March 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/310744/upsonei-frahti-kai-i-voulgaria-sta-sunora-me-tin-ellada/ 192 ‘Borisof: Bulgaria is ready to erect fence in its borders’, tvxs, 25 March 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/mporisof-i-boylgaria-einai-etoimi-na-sikosei-fraxti-sta-synora 193 ‘B. Borisof: Bulgaria is ready to erect fence in its borders’, ERT, 25 March 2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/b-borisof-etimi-i-voulgaria-na-ipsosi-frachti-sta-sinora-me-tin-ellada/ 194 ‘Fence in Bulgaria’s borders with Greece is to be erected’, Naftemporiki, 25 March 2016, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1084309/fraxti-sta-sunora-me-tin-ellada-etoimazei-i-boulgaria

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necessary," he added. On Thursday, Defence Minister Nikolay Nenchev requested an additional 1.5 million levs ($860,000) to provide essential equipment to army personnel taking part in border protection and control jointly with the police. This news story is about Bulgaria’s decision to erect a fence in order to prevent refugees from entering its territory. Articles take an ‘us versus them’ approach, with Greek government being presented as “not having taken any measures during the previous months”. Refugee flows are presented as a “threat” that needs to be countered. In a display of elite-oriented journalism, only the PM’s statements are presented, with no further context analysis.

Violent clashes between Syrians and Afghans at the port of Piraeus; eight injured According to Ta Nea195, AMNA196, To Vima197, Naftemporiki198, Skai, Huffighton Post jointly with an ERT video-reportage199 and other portals, at least 8 people got injured, two of them seriously on the head, and one woman suffered a nervous breakdown, during violent clashes between Syrians and Afghans that broke out last night (30/3) at the port of Piraeus. The injured were taken to nearby Tzaneio hospital. The three-hour fight reportedly erupted after a group of Afghans harassed Syrian women. The two groups would throw rocks to each other, while they also broke the windows of the passenger station at gate E1. Clashes at Piraeus port are presented at various site’s news stories, with titles like “battlefield at Piraeus port”. Combined with ethnic groups naming (Syrians and Afghans), this only results in dehumanizing refugees. Only visible outcomes are described, with material damage listed down in detail, contrary to individual perspectives on the events (which are missing). Main questions are “who was the aggressor” and “how could he be stopped”. In this case, the government’s solution is to merely try and split different ethnic groups. April 2016 Chios hotspot: 5 get injured, 500 “escape”, Doctors of the World to leave the island Two refugees were stabbed, three suffered serious injuries, and others sustained

195 ‘Serious incidents and stone throwing among refugees in Piraeus port – 8 lightly injured’, Ta Nea, 30 March 2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5347051/poreia-prosfygwn-sto- kentro-ths-athhnas/ 196 ‘Clashes break out between Syrians and Afghans in Piraeus – eight injured’, AMNA, 31March 2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/english/article/13391/Clashes-break-out-between-Syrians-and- Afghans-in-Piraeus;-eight-injured 197 ‘Clashes break out between Syrians and Afghans in Piraeus’, To Vima, 31 March 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=788705 198 ‘Violence between Syrians, Afghans at temporary shelter in port of Piraeus’ Naftemporiki, 31 March 2016, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1086351/violence-between-syrians-afghans-at- temporary-shelter-in-port-of-piraeus 199 ‘Incidents between Syrians and Afghans at night in Piraeus’, Huffington Post, 31 March 2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2016/03/31/syrians-afganoi-peiraias_n_9579430.html

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serious head and leg injuries, as Politis Chios200, Kathimerini201, Greek Reporter202, Proto Thema203, iefimerida204, Skai205, Protagon206, Imerisia207, Ethnos208, Era- Aegean209 and several others reported, after a violent fight broke out last night (31/3) at Chios hotspot between Afghans and Syrians for unknown yet reasons. Police attempted to disperse the angry mob by throwing stun grenades. Protesters destroyed “Doctors of the World” infrastructure, a material damage estimated at 30,000 euros, forcing the medical aid group to leave the island. Local residents staged a protest at the island’s police station this morning, worried that the situation is getting out of control. Some said that they fear for their safety. Chios Mayor Manolis Vournous accused the government of not having taken the necessary measures after hotspots turned into closed detention centers. This news story is about clashes at the Chios VIAL site, resulting in injuries and damages. Articles use of language displays tension and sensationalism, with the situation at the VIAL site presented as “boiling pot, that is ready to burst” and “out of control”. There’s closed time, calling for an immediate intervention no matter what the cost or implication for refugees will be. Violence is at the forefront; it is commented that “cohabitation between different ethnic groups proves to be impossible”. Such comments elicit further animosity towards refugees. Visible results also dominate the stories, stressing the 30, 000 euros damage in MDM’s clinic and that the organization will be leaving the island. Only ‘our’ suffering is accounted for, with Greece presented as the only country bearing the cost of refugee flows.

200 ‘Out of control: 30,000 euros damages, charges for threats with knife to Chalkious residents’, Politis Chios, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/ekrythmi-i-katastasi 201 Tania Georgiopoulou, ‘The police only watching the rioting’, Kathimerini, 2 April 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/855183/article/epikairothta/ellada/h-astynomia-aplos-8eaths-sta-ektropa , ‘Five hurt in violence at Chios refugee detention camp’, eKathimerini, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/207529/article/ekathimerini/news/five-hurt-in-violence-at-chios-refugee- detention-camp 202 Philip Chrysopoulos, ‘Doctors of the World leave Chios hotspot after refugee fight’, Greek Reporter, 1 Apr.2016, available at http://greece.greekreporter.com/2016/04/01/doctors-of-the-world-leave-chios- hotspot-after-refugee-fight/ 203 Spyros Goutzanis, ‘Chios: Migrants broke the clinic – 30,000 euros of damages’, Proto Thema, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/566473/fovoi-gia-genikeumeni- surraxi-se-peiraia-kai-eidomeni-/ 204 ‘Migrants broke down Doctors of the World clinic in Chios hotspot’, iefimerida, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/259722/metanastes-espasan-iatreio-ton-giatron-toy-kosmoy- sto-hotspot-hioy#axzz4hKd6jt8q 205 ‘Violent clashes in refugee detention camp in Chios’, Skai, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/311339/agries-sublokes-metaxu-suron-kai-afganon-sto-kedro- kratisis-sti-hio/#ixzz44YhTSKjc 206 ‘Refugee Crisis: “Idomeni and Piraeus should immediately be evacuated”’, Protagon, 1 Apr.2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/prosfygikona-ekkenwthoun-amesa-peiraias-kai- eidomeni-44341097364 207 ‘Chios: Refugees escaped from hotspot – Piraeus their final destination’, Imerisia, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113963754 208 ‘Big refugee “exodus” in Chios after last night incidents’, Ethnos, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/megali_eksodos_prosfygon_apo_tin_xio_meta_apo_ta_bradina_ epeisodia-64354826/ 209 Theodoris Piliotis, ‘Wild night with beatings in Vial detention center, clashes between Syrian and Afghans – 5 injured’, Era Aegean, 1 April 2016, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=9505

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Piraeus: migrant attempts to attack officers using baby as weapon Following the visit of Secretary General for Migration Policy Vasilis Papadopoulos to Piraeus port, where he informed refugees and migrants of the current situation, a migrant allegedly grabbed a baby and threatened to throw it to coast guard officers. Other migrants rushed to hold the baby, who was safely given to its mother. Refugees and migrants shout to reporters asking for borders to open and saying that they will not leave the port. Meanwhile, tension was recorded among refugees in front of gate E3. Staging a sit-in protest, they did not allow passage to private vehicles. Coast guard officers intervened and tension was immediately solved. Giorgos Kyritsis, spokesperson for the Refugee Crisis Management Coordination Body, reiterated that the port would be emptied by April 12 to be able to accommodate Easter travelers, with all refugees transferred to the center in Skaramagka. This story was mainly covered by Skai210, Proto Thema211 and iefimerida212. Articles came with sensational titles, implying tension: “sock at Piraeus” and “chaos at Piraeus”. “Unbelievable images” and “refugee holding a baby as a weapon” are some of the phrases used to describe the event, all of which elicit very negative feelings towards refugees. It should be noted that mere descriptions of the events were provided, with no context analysis or interviews from the field, in order to uncover hidden truths or the conflict’s ‘why’.

Tension in Eidomeni after FYROM police use teargas, rubber bullets, stun grenades on migrants, refugees On Saturday (10/4), unknown individuals distributed pamphlets in Arabic urging migrants and refugees to storm the border and cross to FYROM by force. On the following day (11/4), a delegation of five refugees approached FYROM border and asked for permission to cross. FYROM police refused and about 500 refugees and migrants tried to storm the fence, while throwing rocks at the border guards. FYROM police responded with teargas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. Numerous photos and videos on social media show scores of migrants and refugees running from canisters thrown by officers in riot gear. The Greek gov’t said the use of force against migrants and refugees was "dangerous and deplorable," accusing FYROM authorities of using rubber bullets as well as tear gas to push back crowds of people on the Greek side of the border. Alternate Citizens’ Protection Minister Nikos Toskas also condemned the use of force by FYROM police telling SKAI TV today (11/4) “migrants who were beaten

210 ‘Shock in Piraeus – He tried to attack coast guards with a baby!’, Skai, 6 Apr.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/311788/sok-ston-peiraia-prospathise-na-epitethei-me-vrefos- stous-limenikous-/#ixzz452cXR6nk 211 ‘Chaos in Piraeus: Migrant threatened to throw his baby!’, Proto Thema, 6 April 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/567929/haos-ston-peiraia-metanastis-apeilise-na-petaxei-to- moro-tou-sti-thalassa/ 212 ‘Shock in Piraeus: Migrant threatened to throw a baby against a coast guard’, iefimerida, 6 April 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/260613/sok-ston-peiraia-metanastis-apeilise-na-petaxei- moro-se-limeniko-vinteo#axzz4hKd6jt8q

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yesterday are the jihadis of tomorrow.” Toskas rejected allegations that FYROM police had operated on the Greek side of the border saying that the fence stands two to three meters into FYROM’s side of the frontier. He also responded to criticism from the neighboring country’s Foreign Ministry that Greek police had not tried to stop the migrants from scaling the border fence. “This would have provoked an even greater reaction,” he said. The violence was recorded by various sources, among which are are enikos213, CNN Greece214, Ta Nea215, Avgi216, Euro2day217, Kathimerini218, Skai219, Ethnos220, Huffigton Post221 and many others. Those news stories attempt to present one of the year’s most widely-covered events, refugees attempt to pass the (closed) FYROM border and FYROM’s defense forces response. WJ elements are very evident in most of the pieces. Elite-oriented journalism results in various interviews with prominent figures (President, Alternate Citizen’s Protection Minister) but no refugee views being presented. Most of the articles are reproducing second hand information with no field correspondence. ‘Us versus them’ approach is everywhere, with Greece against FYROM (detailed description of strongly-worded diplomatic complaints and statements in some of the articles), refugees versus FYROM/the EU and international NGOs against the situation in Eidomeni. Violence and sensationalism rule, with extensive descriptions of clashes and wounded individuals’ medical reports. Both refugees and FYROM forces are presented as having resorted to extensive violence, eliciting negative feelings towards them without context description. Last but not least, several phrases and statements in the articles promote animosity, not only against refugees but also FYROM forces.

213 ‘FYROM: 15 injured policemen after the Idomeni incidents’, Enikos, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.enikos.gr/international/382407/skopia-15-astynomikoi-travmatistikan-apo-ta-epeisodia- stin-eidomeni 214 ‘FYROM: 15 injured policemen after the Idomeni incidents’, CNN Greece, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/28336/pgdm-dekapente-astynomikoi-traymatistikan-sta- epeisodia-stin-eidomeni 215 ‘Greek acts and FYROM provocation’, Ta Nea, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/greece/article/5349833/agria-epeisodia-ston-fraxth-ths-eidomenhs/#1 216 ‘Tension in Idomeni: teargas against refugees from the FYROM police’, Avgi, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6437597/entasi-stin-eidomeni-dakrugona-kata-ton-prosfugon- apo-tin-astunomia-tis-pgdm 217 ‘New concerning tension in Idomeni – Refugees still in the fence’, Euro2day, 11 April 2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/highlights/article-news/1413280/nea-anhsyhhtikh-entash-sthn- eidomenh-ston-frakth.html 218 ‘FYROM blames Greek police for the incidents in Idomeni’, Kathimerini, 11 April 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/856237/article/epikairothta/politikh/thn-ellhnikh-astynomia-kathgoroyn-ta- skopia-gia-ta-epeisodia-sthn-eidomenh 219 ‘Spikes from FYROM for Hellenic Police stance in Idomeni incidents’, Skai 11 April 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/312146/aihmes-apo-pgdm-gia-ti-stasi-tis-ellinikis- astunomias-sta-epeisodia-tis-eidomenis/ 220 ‘Unprecedented violence by FYROM’, Ethnos, 11 April 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/protofanis_bia_apo_tous_skopianous-64359176/ 221 ‘Incidents in FYROM borders: clashes of migrants and refugees with FYROM police’, Huffington Post, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2016/04/10/eidomenh- epeisodia_n_9654102.html

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Idomeni: “live ticking bomb”, “favela” Idomeni was visited Thursday morning (14/4) by the President of the Panhellenic Union of State Hospitals’ Employees Michalis Giannakos, who referred to it as a “live ticking bomb”, given the poor hygienic conditions, as reported by Proto Thema222, Pronews223, Imerisia224 and Gazetta225. He then stressed the need to support Kilkis hospital in both staff and funding. The camp was also visited by the President of Doctors of the World Greece, Nikitas Kanakis, who talked about a “favela” and expressed his fear that it might turn into a permanent situation, while he called on Europe to realize that this is not a Greek problem. Panhellenic State Hospitals President’s visit to Eidomeni was given extensive coverage. News stories on the event present various WJ elements. First of all, it is only the President’s evaluation on the issue that is reproduced by the news, together with this of MSF’s President. Furthermore, focus is on visible outcomes and, more specifically, Kilkis hospital’s unpaid hospitalization fees that have presented a sharp increase. Details over refugees’ individual health conditions are not, however, presented. “Live ticking bomb” and “Europe’s favela” comments elicit very negative reactions both for the site and for refugees.

May 2016 Drugs and prostitution in Idomeni Vima tis Ko226 and Xanthi Press227 rebroadcasted Eleftheros Typos report that criminal groups have turned Idomeni into a market for drugs and prostitution. Groups of Moroccans and Tunisians sell drugs, Syrians illegal cigarettes, while Afghans and Pakistanis are involved into people smuggling. In addition to that, Moroccans and Iraqis have lately started a prostitution business in the camp taking advantage of women travelling alone. They have thus turned an abandoned train wagon and a room of a squatted building into prostitution places asking from each client 5 to 10 euros, and giving just a few euros to women.

222 ‘President of Hospital employees: Idomeni is a “Live ticking bomb”’, Proto Thema, 14 April 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/570272/proedros-nosokomeiakon-upallilon- ugeionomiko-narkopedio-i-eidomeni/ 223 ‘Doctors of the World about Idomeni: “Europe’s favela”’, ProNews, 14 April 2016, available at http://www.pronews.gr/portal/20160414/health/%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B1/%C E%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1%CF%84%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%AF-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85- %CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1- %CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CE%B7- %C2%AB%CF%86%CE%B1%CE%B2%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B1- %CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82- %CE%B5%CF%85%CF%81%CF%8E%CF%80%CE%B7%CF%82%C2%BB 224 ‘Idomeni: live ticking bomb and the “favela” of Europe’, Imerisia, 15 April 2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=113979421 225 ‘Idomeni has become a live ticking bomb, doctors say’, Gazzetta, 15 April 2016, available at http://www.gazzetta.gr/plus/article/907175/ygeionomiko-narkopedio-i-eidomeni-lene-oi-giatroi 226 ‘Idomeni: Drugs, prostitution and trafficking – they turned a train wagon into a brothel’, VimatisKo, 18 May 2016, available at http://vimatisko.gr/?page=news&records=details&_p.id=35787 227 ‘Drugs, prostitution and trafficking Idomeni’s ghetto’, Xanthi Press, 17 May 2016, available at http://www.xanthipress.gr/narkotika-pornia-ke-trafficking-sto-gketo-tis-idomenis/

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Drug dealing and prostitution at Eidomeni site appeared on the news. Ethnic groups were presented as each having a different, illegal ‘business sector’ in Eidomeni site. Such categorization is dehumanizing and only contributes to further hatred towards people from the named ethnic groups. According to the reporters, the main issue was “who is organizing those activities”. As a result, the question of how this phenomenon could be solved is not touched upon. Not to mention, there’s only simple description of rumors, no context analysis and no answers to ‘why’.

Larissa: refugees enter municipal council meeting holding snakes, scorpions During the municipal council meeting held Tuesday (17/5) in Larissa, refugees entered the room holding snakes and scorpions, , according to Thessalia News228, iefimerida229, Proto Thema230 and Newsit231, to protest against the abhorrent living conditions in the nearby camp of Koutsochero. A group of solidaires accompanying them, talked about the total lack of medical care referring to many cases of gastroenteritis as well as urinary tract infections. They even compared Koutsochero to Dachau and Makronisos [Greek island used as a prison from the time of the civil war to the collapse of the junta in 1974] asking for the transfer of refugees in the city. Before this “intervention”, the Mayor of Larissa had announced the approval of a 100,000 euro fund to cover refugee-related expenses and the forthcoming visit, until the end of May, of the Coordinating Committee to start with the registration of asylum claims. The news stories present refugees’ protest during a Larissa Municipal meeting. Tension and sensationalism are evident, with refugees being presented as “storming” in a municipal meeting and causing great tension. An ‘us versus them’ approach is taken, with the Mayor questioning central government’s actions, and refugees criticizing the Mayor. The stories’ approach is quite unbalanced, with most of the article referring to the Mayor’s interventions for the Larissa region sites rather than the hardships refugees attempted to highlight.

228 Irini Papoutsi, ‘They brought snakes at the municipal council’, ThessaliaNews, 18 May 2016, available at http://thessalianews.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60237:2016-05- 18-06-17-25&catid=76:koinonia&Itemid=110 229 ‘Unbelievable: Refugees entered in Larissa’s municipal council meeting with snakes and scorpions (photo)’, iefimerida, 18 May 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/267512/apisteyto- prosfyges-mpikan-sto-dimotiko-symvoylio-larisas-me-fidia-kai-skorpioys-eikona#axzz4hKd6jt8q 230 ‘Tension, snakes and scorpions in Larissa’s municipal council meeting’, Proto Thema, 18 May 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/579202/edasi-fidia-kai-skorpioi-sto-dimotiko- sumvoulio-larisas/ 231 ‘Larissa: Refugees entered in Larissa’s municipal council meeting with snakes and scorpions – “Dahau conditions in Kooutsochero” (photo)!, Newsit, 18 May 2016, available at http://www.newsit.gr/topikes-eidhseis/Larisa-Prosfyges-mpikan-sto-dimotiko-symvoylio-me-fidia-kai- skorpioys-Synthikes-Ntaxaoy-sto-Koytsoxero-Foto-/620873

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June 2016 Oraiokastro: 40 Syrians involved in clashes To Vima232, Skai233, Karfitsa234, iefimerida235, Seleo236 and Typos Thessalonikis237 Tension recorded tension last night (3/6) at the refugee accommodation center in Oraiokastro, resulting in the injury of a 18-year-old young man, who had to be transferred to Ippokrateio Hospital in Thessaloniki for first-aid treatment, and was soon after released. The fight allegedly started when two persons quarreled over a mobile charger. Approximately 40 Syrians then joined the fight. Clashes at Oraiokastro sites featured in daily news stories. Ethnic groups naming dominated all relevant articles, contributing in the dehumanizing of individuals. Titles were sensational and echoed violence (“merciless beating”), further eliciting very negative responses towards refugees. Articles highlighted that clashes only ended when an individual got seriously injured, with the main question being “who is the aggressor” and tension being on the high. No context was provided and pieces were based on unconfirmed info, with one of them claiming that clashes were due to differences over a mobile phone charger but others contradicting the statement.

Samos: large-scale clashes among rival ethnic groups Skai238, Newpost239, To Vima240, Kathimerini241, Avgi242, Efimerida ton

232 ‘Violent clashes among refugees at the Samos accommodation center’, To Vima, 2 June 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=804850 233 ‘Clashes among Syrian refugees at Oreokastro accommodation center’, Skai, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/316617/subloki-anamesa-se-surous-prosfuges-sto-kedro- filoxenias-oraiokastrou/#ixzz4AUltm0Dp 234 ‘Incidents at Oreokastro accommodation center’, Karfitsa, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.karfitsa.gr/epeisodia-sto-kentro-filoksenias-pros/ 235 ‘Oreokastro camp: Brutal beating over a charger’, iefimerida, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/270356/kataylismos-oraiokastroy-agrio-xylo-gia-ena- fortisti#ixzz4AVgKDRzV 236 Theologos Iliou, ‘Refugees came to blows in Oreokastro camp – They stabbed an 18-year-old’, Seleo, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.seleo.gr/thessalonikh/212883-piastikan-sta-xeria-prosfyges-sto- kentro-filoksenias-sto-oraiokastro-maxairosan-18xrono#.WR6atWjyjIV 237 ‘Thessaloniki: conflict in refugee accommodation center in Oreokastro’, Typos Thessalonikis, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.typosthes.gr/gr/topika/astinomika-koinonika/article/99993/thessaloniki- surraxi-sto-kedro-filoxenias-prosfugon-sto-oraiokastro/ 238 ‘Dozens of injured from serious incidents in Samos migrant’s center’, Skai, 2 June 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/316588/triada-traumaties-apo-sovara-epeisodia-sto-kedro- metanaston-sti-samo/#ixzz4AUmRA7CY 239 ‘Serious incidents with injuries in Samos detention center’, NewPost, 2 June 2016, available at http://newpost.gr/ellada/538653/sobara-epeisodia-se-kentro-krathshs-metanastwn-sth-samo 240 ‘Violent clashes among refugees in Samos accommodation center’, To Vima, 2 June 2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/209286/article/ekathimerini/news/six-injured-in-migrant-clashes-on- samos-island 241 ‘Six injured in migrant clashes on Samos Island’, Kathimerini, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/209286/article/ekathimerini/news/six-injured-in-migrant-clashes-on- samos-island 242 ‘Samos: Serious incidents with injuries in accommodation shelter for refugees’, Avgi, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.avgi.gr/article/6587219/samos-sobara-epeisodia-me-traumaties-sto-kentro- filoxenias-prosfugon

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Syntakton243, Era Aegean244, dikaiologitika245 and other local portals246 reported on clashes that broke out among rival ethnic groups (some media report between Syrians and Afghans, others report between Pakistanis, Algerians and Moroccans) at the hotspot of Samos island, where 1,100 people are currently held. Fifteen people got injured, eight of them received extra medical care and one is to be transferred to a larger hospital outside Samos. The clashes were violent with some of them carrying sharp objects. At the same time, a part of the building was set on fire by protesters and has been completely destroyed. All Samos police force was called to intervene, while the situation is reportedly calm at present. Clashes among ethnic groups at the Samos refugee site gained big publicity. Ethnic group naming (Afghans and Pakistanis) in the articles’ very title contributed in the dehumanizing and demonizing of individuals belonging in those groups, which already were characterized as “illegal migrants”. There’s only brief reference to the events, with no context and absence of field work. Only material damage was presented, with refugees themselves not having the opportunity to voice their concerns or present their perspective.

Chios: fire set at Souda refugee camp Tension was recorded Monday afternoon (6/6), at approximately 4pm, at Souda camp on Chios island, where approximately 30 refugees and migrants set fire at dustbins in protest, according to ERT247, Huffington Post248, Politis Chios249,

243 Margarita Ikariou, ‘Serious incidents in Samos hotspot’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 3 June 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/sovara-epeisodia-sto-hotspot-samoy-video 244 Charis Zavoudakis, ‘Tension and incidents in Samos hotspot’, Era-Aegean, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=12143 245 Sklavos Tasos, ‘Serious incidents in Samos hotspot’, Dikaiologitika, 3 June 2016, available at http://www.dikaiologitika.gr/eidhseis/kosmos/109667/sovara-epeisodia-sto-hotspot-tis-samou 246 ‘Serious incidents in Samos migrants’ center. Many injured!’, i-samos, 2 June 2016, available at http://bit.ly/2qAjb8F 247 Vivi Papastefanou, ‘Refugees set fire at dustbins in Souda camp’, ERT, 6 June 2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/fotia-se-kadous-skoupidion-apo-prosfyges-sti-souda-tis-chiou/ 248 ‘Fire in Souda refugee camp in Chios’, Huffington Post, 6 June 2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2016/06/06/metanasteutiko-fotia-kataulismos-xio_n_10321424.html 249 ‘Fire in Souda camp’, PolitisChios, 6 June 2016, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/fotia-ston-kataylismo-tis-soydas

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NewPost250, News247251, Altsantiri252, Era Aegean253, Proto Thema254, Newsit255 and nine more media. The fire soon spread destroying the UNHCR tent and the units at the entrance of the camp. MAT riot police officers and fire fighters rushed to intervene. Women, children and those on hunger strike were the first to be evacuated. Tension was also recorded among locals, who were afraid the fire would reach their houses. No problem was recorded with liquid gas bottles that were inside the destroyed units. A fireman was slightly injured on the leg, a minor refugee got injured on the head and was transferred to hospital. Yannis Koutsodontis, a nurse who reached the spot to offer first-aid, was also injured and filed a complaint against Matthaios Mirmigkousis, who together with others, reportedly members of Golden Dawn and locals, started beating refugees, even children, and volunteers. As of last night, Chios police have arrested seven people, known for their infringing conduct among NGOs and aid groups. Those arrested in connection to Monday’s fire will most probably lose their right to asylum, transferred to a detention center in Athens, and finally sent back to Turkey. Local Mayor, accused by local media for not being present, reiterated his demand to end the accommodation of refugees and migrants in both the Souda camp and the Regional Theater, transferring them all to a site away from populated areas. Fire and clashes at Chios Souda site made a few news headlines. Articles were mainly concerned with “who was the aggressor” or, in this case, “who set the fire”. Texts were accompanied by photos depicting material damage, eliciting hatred, strengthening the dehumanizing effect for refugees but, at the same time, gathering publicity for the story. In addition, naming of individuals’ ethnic origin (Iraqi) and articles’ phrasing led to animosity, as one could easily observe at the readers’ comments sections. It is, however, doubtful whether there was journalistic field presence that could confirm information on the case; one article refers to a single individual as the ‘perpetrator’ and another one to a group. An us versus them approach together with elite-orientation is evident in the interview with Chios Mayor; he demands an end to the “accommodation of refugees in both the Souda camp and the Regional Theater”, making it clear they are unwanted and further fueling animosity.

250 ‘Fire in Chios refugee camp (photos)’, NewPost, 6 June 2016, available at’ http://newpost.gr/ellada/539403/fwtia-se-kataylismo-prosfygwn-sth-xio-fwto 251 Christos Demetis, ‘Refugees go on hunger strike in Souda, Chios. They set the camp on fire’, News247, 6 June 2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/apergia-peinas-prosfugwn-sth- souda-ths-xioy-evalan-fwtia-ston-kataylismo.4102063.html 252 ‘Tension and fires in Chios detention center’, Altsantiri, 7 June 2016, available at http://www.altsantiri.gr/ellada/entasi-ke-foties-se-kentro-kratisis-sti-chio-video/ 253 Theodoros Piliotis, ‘Fire in Souda after refugees protests (vid)’, Era-Aegean, 7 June 2016, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=12294 254 ‘Video: Incidents and fires in Chios refugee camp of Souda’, Proto Thema, 6 June 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/584787/hios-megali-fotia-ston-kataulismo-ton-prosfugon-sti- souda-fotografies/ 255 ‘Chios: they severely beat refugees, migrants and nurses – brutal racist attack with threats and insults’, Newsit, available at http://www.newsit.gr/topikes-eidhseis/Xios-Evalan-fotia-ston-kataylismo-tis- Soydas-FOTO/626023

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Thessaloniki, Vasilika: tension among locals, refugees A few hours after the transfer of refugees at the new site in Vasilika, according to Ethnos256, Voria257 and Seleo258, a group of young refugees holding knives, wooden batons and even an axe, were confronted with locals opposed to the operation of the site. Police had to use tear gas to disperse them, while reports suggest that a few “solidaires”, who followed refugees from Polykastro, are responsible for inciting tension. Tension among locals and refugees at the Vasilika site is a good example of WJ- oriented story. Relevant articles use very inflammatory statements in order to describe the situation, which they characterize as “ready to burst”. The journalistic approach is very unbalanced, with the article claiming that refugees were transferred to the site against the Municipality’s wish, indirectly pointing towards Municipality’s ‘suffering’ but not wondering whether refugees themselves wanted to get transferred there. The issue of “who is to blame” regarding this situation is highlighted a few times, coupled with continuous references to tension and violence as well as an ‘us versus them’ approach; local society is presented as being against refugees presence.

September 2016 Austrian FM: refugees to stop on Lesvos and Lampedusa Ta Nea259, Newsit260, Skai261, Kathimerini262, To Pontiki263 and Protagon264 featured an interview with the Austrian daily Kurier265 on Friday (2/9), Austrian

256 Vasilis Ignatiadis, ‘Playing with the fire’, Ethnos, 15 June 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/paixnidia_me_ti_fotia-64392903/ 257 ‘Vasilika: incidents between refugees and locals in Polycastro’, Voria, 14 June 2016, available at http://voria.gr/index.php/article/vasilika-episodia-katikon-me-tous-prosfiges-apo-polikastro-foto 258 Theologos Iliou, ‘Tensions with refugees who provoked residents of Vasilika- Reports over threats with knife’, Seleo, 14 June 2016, available at http://www.seleo.gr/thessalonikh/213786-entasi-me- prosfyges-pou-prokalesan-katoikous-sta-vasilika-kataggelies-gia-apeiles-me-maxairi#.WR7O72jyjIV 259 ‘Austria insists refugees to stop in Lesvos and Lampedusa’, Ta Nea, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.tanea.gr/news/world/article/5386289/epimenei-h-aystria-oi-prosfyges-na-stamatoyn-sth- lesbo-kai-sth-lampentoyza/ 260 ‘New provocation from Kurz: To stop refugees at Lesvos and Lampedusa’, Newsit, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/Nea-proklisi-Koyrts-Na-stamatoyn-oi-prosfyges-se-Lesvo- kai-Lampentoyza/646371 261 ‘Austria: refugees should be stopped at Lesvos and Lampedusa’, Skai, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/323759/austria-na-stamatoun-oi-prosfuges-se-lesvo- labedouza/#ixzz4JMeXPmYd 262 ‘Kurz: refugees to stop in Lesvos and Lampedusa’, Kathimerini, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/873212/article/epikairothta/kosmos/koyrts-oi-prosfyges-na-stamatoyn-sth- lesvo-kai-sth-lampentoyza 263 ‘Kurz: refugees to stop at detention centers in Lesvos and Lampedusa’, To Pontiki, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.topontiki.gr/article/183659/koyrts-na-stamatoyn-oi-prosfyges-se-stratopeda-se- lesvo-kai-lampentoyza 264 ‘Refugees to remain in Lesvos and Lampedusa, suggests again Austrian Foreign Minister’, Protagon, 2 September 2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/protagon_brief/na-menoun-se-lesvo-kai- labentouza-oi-prosfyges-proteinei-ek-neou-o-afstriakos-yp-ekswterikwn 265 Josef Votzi, ‘Kurz: "Der Migrationsdruck bleibt gewaltig"’, Kurier, 2 September 2016, available at https://kurier.at/politik/inland/kurz-der-migrationsdruck-bleibt-gewaltig/218.977.773

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Foreign Affairs Minister Sebastian Kurz reiterated his proposal to adopt the “Australian model” in Europe, namely transforming Lesvos and Lampedusa, the two main entry points in Greece and Italy respectively, into refugees’ concentration camps. Kurz also expressed his belief that those reaching Europe, do not seek safety but rather a better life in Austria, Germany or Sweden. Austrian FM’s statements regarding refugee flows were presented by a few media agencies. The articles were a good representation of elite-oriented journalism, merely reproducing a leading figure’s statements with no further analysis or context. The interview’s use of language, with phrases like ‘refugee flows pressure’, ‘concentration camps’ and ‘those reaching Europe do not seek safety but rather a good life’ contributes towards refugees’ dehumanization and elicits negative responses towards them, especially since they are merely thought to be seeking a ‘good life’. An ‘us versus them’ approach is adopted, with refugee flows implied to constitute some sort of ‘threat’ for Europe, something calling for a defensive stance and measures to be taken against those individuals’ presence.

Leros: fire close to hotspot; clashes among refugees According to Proto Thema266, Skai267, news247268 and iefimerida269, Two firefighting aircrafts, a hiking unit and a Navy team were dispatched to put out a fire that broke out near the hotspot on Leros island Saturday evening (17/9), which local authorities said was caused by arson. The fire was extinguished a few hours later. The Mayor of Leros, Michalis Kolias, said the culprits may be foreigners who were sighted in the area. “There are witness accounts by islanders that a small group of foreigners was seen in the spot. I cannot comment on their identity, it is the job of the police to investigate the incident and see who’s responsible,” he said. Kolias also said that clashes were reported among refugees on the same night and four of them had to be taken to hospital. The municipal council will meet today (19/9) to discuss how to handle the situation. A fire close to Leros hotspot made the frontpage in several news agencies, with articles however being elite-oriented and only referring to Leros Mayor’s statements regarding the event. ‘Foreigners’ are being accused for the fire, even though there is no formal investigation verdict yet, in a very obvious ‘us versus them’ approach. Stories on the fire only make simple descriptions of the events, with no field research as well as interviews with either eye witnesses or refugees who could shed light on the case or

266 ‘Big fire in Leros – The hotspot and health center are in danger’, Proto Thema, 17 September 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/611648/megali-purkagia-sti-lero-apeiloudai-to- hotspot-kai-to-therapeutirio-/ 267 ‘Fire under control in Leros – turmoil in hotspot in the area’, Skai, 18 September 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/324995/upo-elegho-i-fotia-sti-lero/#ixzz4KgKVr6vY 268 ‘Fire in Leros is under control – tensions in hotspot’, News247, 18 September 2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/ypo-elegxo-h-pyrkagia-sth-lero-anataraxh-sto- hotspot.4269377.html 269 ‘Incidents in Leros hotspot – Threatening fire is under control’, iefimerida, 18 September 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/289203/epeisodia-sto-hotspot-tis-leroy-ypo-elegho-i- pyrkagia-poy-apeiloyse#axzz4hWZBdt2J

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at least give their own perspective. Another mainstream journalism element appears in the Leros fire stories: focus only on ‘who was the perpetrator’, instead of research on the conflict’s hidden dynamics and ‘why’s.

Lesvos: major upheaval at hotspot A large fire swept through Moria’s hotspot on Monday night (19/9), destroying tents and prefabricated homes, and prompting the evacuation of the facility’s estimated 4,000 residents, who ran into fields in the vicinity. Arabs reportedly started running towards the town but were stopped in the intersection of Panagiouda by heavy police forces. Africans headed towards Moria so that they would go to Mytilene passing through the village. In the entrance of Moria they were stopped by police forces and angry citizens that forbade them to pass through the village sending them back. The fire department was notified at 19.55 yesterday, 10 vehicles reached the spot with 30 firefighters who could not enter the premises for 30 minutes due to the incidents inside. Fire spread outside the camp, burning tens of acres of olive groves. Fire was finally extinguished, and about 60% of the facilities were totally damaged and there was not electricity. The refugees that re-entered the hotspot later found only burnt tents, ashes, and mud due to the water thrown to extinguish the fire. The news was covered by a plethora of news-agencies, some of which are Newsbeast270, CNN Greece271, Proto Thema272, Skai273, Ethnos274, Eleftheros Typos275, Lesvos News276, TVXS277, To Vima278 and many others. Authorities on the island said that the fire was most likely started by camp residents frustrated by cramped conditions and delays in processing. Clashes inside the

270 ‘Wild night in Lesvos and complete destruction in Moria hotspot’, Newsbeast, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/2383190/agria-nichta-sti-lesvo-ke-oloklirotiki- katastrofi-sto-hot-spot-tis-morias 271 ‘Big fire in Moria – migrants’ detention center was evacuated’, CNN Greece, 19 September 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/47022/megali-fotia-sti-moria-ekkenothike-to-kentro- kratisis-metanaston-vid 272 Vasilis Ignatidis, ‘Night of hell in Lesvos: hotspot of refugees in ashes, the local community is outraged’, Proto Thema, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/612198/haos-sti-lesvo-stahti-to-hot-spot-vrazei-i-topiki- koinonia/ 273 ‘Lesvos: the ruins of a day – hotspot in cinder – migrants on the street’, Skai, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/325170/lesvos-ta-apomeinaria-mias-meras-sto- dromo-5700-metanastes-/#ixzz4KmQ2P4NT 274 ‘A night of hell with fires and clashes in Moria’, Ethnos, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/nyxta_kolasis_me_foties_kai_symplokes_sti_moria-64518464/ 275 ‘Next day in Moria – the catastrophe through photos’, Eleftheros Typos, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ellada/36725-i-epomeni-mera-sto-hot-spot-tis-moria-i-katastrofi- mesa-apo-fotografies/ 276 Stratis Balaskas, ‘Wild night in Moria – Inferno fire, huge damages’, Lesvos News, 20 September 2016, available at http://www.lesvosnews.net/articles/news-categories/astynomiko-reportaz/agria- nyhta-sti-moria-kolasi-fotias-megales-katastrofes 277 ‘60% of the Moria hotspot was destroyed after the events (photos and video)’, tvxs, 20 September 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/ellada/katastrafike-60-toy-hotspot-sti-moria-meta-ta-epeisodia- fotografies 278 ‘Incidents and fires in Moria – in ashes 60% of the hotspot infrastructure’, To Vima, 19 September 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=829865

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camp between different ethnic groups prevented the fire service from bringing the blaze under control before it could spread. Its task was also made harder by strong winds fanning the flames. The Regional Governor for the Northern Aegean, Christiana Kalogirou, warned of an “unmanageable situation” on the islands bearing the brunt of the refugee crisis. “The islanders are well-intentioned but there is fatigue,” Kalogirou told Skai TV today (20/9). “The Northern Aegean cannot bear such a burden alone and neither can Greece,” she said. “Europe has not responded to its commitments.” Kalogirou warned that the islands of the region are currently hosting more than 10,500 refugees and migrants, while they have facilities for half that number. “Measures must be taken immediately; there is no time to lose,” she said, adding that an uptick in arrivals from Turkey over the past few weeks is further exacerbating the situation. “This is a humanitarian issue, but there is also the question of the burden on the local economies and communities,” Kalogirou said. Upheaval at Lesvos Moria hotspot was one of the most well-presented, refugee crisis-related events during 2016. Unfortunately, it was covered in a very WJ-oriented way by literally all media agencies. What was highlighted in several articles was residents wishing to keep refugees away from their villages-residences, in a direct ‘us versus them’ approach. The situation was characterized as unmanageable, with closed space and time deriving from phrases like “measures must be taken immediately” and “there is no time to lose”. Tension, violence and sensationalism was all over the stories, which in turn gave great publicity to the events. Despite the upheaval’s great publicity, still none of the articles presented views from the field or refugees. Instead, there were only statements from prominent figures (Regional Governor). Great attention was given to ‘who was to blame for the fire’ (missing, though, the why part) as well as visible outcomes; olive groves and material destruction at site facilities were described in detail and accompanied by pictures, in an unbalanced approach focusing on ‘our’suffering but missing to report on refugees’ plight.

Refugees damage roof of historic monastery to warm up Refugees and migrants damaged the wooden roof of the historic monument in Petra Olympou, near the accommodation center they are currently hosted, to warm up at night-time. The Monastery addressed a written complaint to both the police and the Alternate Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas. Refugees reportedly -by Pronews279,

279 ‘New problems with migrants: they burned the roof of Petra Olympou Monastery (photo)’, Pronews, 27 September 2016, available at http://www.pronews.gr/portal/20160927/defencenet/esoteriki- asfaleia/65/nea-provlimata-me-toys-metanastes-ekapsan-ti-skepi-tis

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iefimerida280, Protagon281, Eleftheros Typos282 and Antenna283 removed anything that can be burnt so as to set fires and keep warm. This rather unusual story, about refugees damaging a monastery’s roof in order to warm up, found its way to the news. With no field correspondence, agencies focused on visible outcomes and material damage to the monastery’s roof. However, not the same attention was given to conditions at the site as well as refugees’ plight, with their voice not being heard. Potential wrong-doings of ‘ours’, regarding site’s location and necessary measures for refugees to not freeze, were not given equal consideration. As a consequence, the impression readers get is that refugees didn’t respect the monastery’s history, while for them this might have been the only way to warm up.

October 2016 Kos: parents’ associations against refugee children’s access to local schools In a meeting with the Head of Education for Northern Aegean, Vasilis Karagiannis, the representatives of Kos parents’ associations expressed their opposition to allocating school buildings for the education of refugee children. In their announcement, they said that all children, including refugees and migrants, should be entitled to education, but raised a series of concerns related to the lack of vaccinations, the absence of medical care, and the fact that the majority of minors are migrants and not refugees. They thus proposed, according to Skai284, Leros News285 and Enikos286, to have them transferred to mainland Greece, where they can be educated, or organize classes inside the hotspot. Kos parents’ associations objections regarding young refugees’ access to schools are a good example of W-oriented news stories. An ‘us versus them’ approach runs through the articles, with parents’ associations being hostile against refugees and

280 ‘Refugees unravel the roof of Petra Olympou to warm up (photos)’, iefimerida, 27 September 2016, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/291082/prosfyges-xilosan-ti-skepi-tis-monis-petras- olympoy-gia-na-zestathoyn-eikones#axzz4hWZBdt2J 281 ‘Refugees burn Petra Olympou monastery roof to warm up’, Protagon, 28 September 2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/protagon_brief/prosfyges-kaine-ti-skepi-tis-ieras-monis-petras-olybou-gia- na-zestathoun 282 ‘Migrants burnt the roof of Petra Olympou monastery to warm up’, Eleftheros Typos, 28 September 2016, available at http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ellada/39121-metanastes-ekapsan-thn-skeph-ths- monhs-petras-gia-na-zestathoun-eikones/ 283 ‘Refugees reveled Petra Olympou Monastery roof (photos)’, Antenna, 28 September 2016, available at http://www.ant1news.gr/news/Society/article/454258/prosfyges-xilosan-tin-skepi-tis-monis-petras- olympoy-foto- 284 ‘Parents tensions for the access of refugee children in schools, Kos included’, Skai, 1 October 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/326361/enstaseis-goneon-stin-eisagogi- prosfugopoulon-sta-sholeia-kai-stin-ko/#ixzz4LuXBLHRN 285 ‘Kos: Dispute of parent’s association over the concession of public building for refugee/migrant children education’, Leros News, 1 October 2016, available at http://www.lerosnews.gr/1/3/eidiseis- dodekanisa/8823-kws-diafwnia-syllogwn-gonewn-gia-parachwrhsh-dhmosiwn-ktiriwn-gia-thn- ekpaideysh-prosfygwn-%E2%80%93-metanastwn.html 286 ‘Parents association in Kos: “No to the access of refugees children in school buildings”’, enikos, 1 October 2016, available at http://www.enikos.gr/society/412012/syllogoi-goneon-stin-ko-oxi-stin- paraxorisi-sxolikon-ktirion-gia-ta-prosfygopoula

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their children. More importantly, their unbalanced approach is reproduced; they focus on ‘our’ suffering, highlighting lack of vaccinations and absence of medical care risks in order to justify their opposition. However, this is not just a generalization but also something standard policies already exist about, with any refugee student attending school first taking medical exams and doing all vaccinations. This discrimination against young refugees, who are unnecessarily presented as a ‘risk’ or ‘threat’, might result in stigmatizing and hostility against them. Not to mention, referring to migrants in juxtaposition to refugees further enhances negativity towards those ethnic groups’ individuals. The alternatives proposed are also quite problematic and driven by an underlying desire to ‘get rid of the problem’, by either transferring refugees to mainland Greece or having classes inside the hotspot. In both cases, refugees’ voices regarding their preferences are not heard and their suffering neither.

Austrian FM: Merkel is wrong to take in refugees from Greece Ethnos287, Kathimerini288 and Skai289 reported on the Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said that the German Chancellor’s proposal to take in 500 refugees every month from Greece and Italy aims at alleviating pressure from the two countries. However, he estimates that this decision will have the opposite effect; namely more refugees will gather in Greece and Italy as they will get the impression that they can reach Germany. The Austrian FM’s statements are presented via elite-oriented pieces, giving primacy and legitimacy to a prominent figure’s statements on the refugee crisis. The FM’s statements clearly indicate an ‘us versus them’ approach, with anti-refugee policies being framed and presented as necessary for curbing the need for using smugglers and consequently limiting refugee flows. He also takes a zero sum approach when it comes to intra-EU relations, interpreting Central EU countries as ‘forcing’ states like Hungary to take refugees. His focus is just on visible effects, namely the number of refugees to reach Europe. Finally, the use of language, presenting ‘security measures at borders’ as the only solution against refugee flows contributes to the image of refugees as a threat and dehumanizes them.

287 ‘Kurz: Merkel’s statement on accepting refugees from Greece and Italy a mistake’, Ethnos, 2 October 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/diethni/arthro/kourts_lathos_h_eksaggelia_merkel_oti_tha_dexetai_prosfyges_ap o_ellada_kai_italia-64547581/ 288 Kurz: Merkel’s statement on accepting refugees from Greece and Italy mistaken’, Kathimerini, 2 October 2016, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/877425/article/epikairothta/kosmos/koyrts- lan8asmenh-h-e3aggelia-ths-merkel-oti-8a-dexetai-prosfyges-apo-thn-ellada-kai-thn-italia 289 ‘Kurz: Merkel’s decision to take refugees from Greece a mistake’, Skai, 2 October 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/326395/kourts-lathos-i-apofasi-tis-merkel-na-parei-prosfuges- apo-tin-ellada/#ixzz4LvDi1xmf

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Profitis, Municipality of Volvi: parents padlock school, keep their children at home Parents locked the gates of the primary school in the village of Profitis, Municipality of Volvi, 20 miles north of Thessaloniki, and kept their children at home on Tuesday (11/10) in protest against the refugee schooling scheme. The local parents’ association voted to keep the school shut until the government and local authorities address “pressing health concerns”. On Monday (10/10), only 10 of about 130 pupils showed up for classes as parents protested outside. The demonstrators were joined by a far-right group, the Association of Patriots. The local Mayor told reporters that both the municipality and locals were caught by surprise as they were not informed about the said plan. Imerisia290 and Ethnos291 reported on Profitis village parents padlocking local school and keeping children at home in order to avoid contact with refugee kids. Even though articles seem to be a bit critical towards developments, there is still plenty of war journalism elements introduced in the texts. First of all, tension and violence is prevailing at all levels, with an ‘us versus them approach’: locals against refugee kids, parents against government/local authorities’ decisions and few families against far- right groups. Space and time are closed, a solution needs to be found immediately is the situation is not to get out of hand. The pieces are elite-oriented, with neither parents nor kids’ voices being heard. It is only the Mayor and a member of far-right group who get quoted (the latter using language like illegal migrants and people of different religion, in a very negative way). Furthermore, articles use of language passes the message refugee kids might be constituting a ‘health risk’ against local students, especially in case they haven’t been vaccinated.

Tension in Oraiokastro after refugee woman and her child die, hit by car A refugee woman and her young son were killed on Sunday (16/10) outside the refugee camp in Oraiokastro, Thessaloniki, after being hit by a passing car. Another child (reportedly her second child) has been taken to the Ippokratio hospital in Thessaloniki and according to the National Emergency Aid Centre, it does not seem to be in any danger. The incident caused tension in the area as refugees set the car on fire. Two members of the ambulance crew that rushed to take the refugees hit by a vehicle driven by a 76-year-old Greek national, as well as two police officers, had to be transferred to the hospital after being attacked by the angry mob following the car accident. Media report that local websites leaning to neo-fascist and far-rightist organizations tried, following the incident, to present it as a robbery of the driver. More specifically it is reported that they “informed” their readers that refugees and migrants robbed a businessman and then put fire on his car, causing rage and hatred.

290 ‘Xenophobia wave against young refugees gets bigger’, Imerisia, 12 October 2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26510&subid=2&pubid=114187581 291 ‘Far-right wreaks havoc at Volvi’, Ethnos, 12 October 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/symmaxia_akraion_sti_bolbi-64566884/

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The incident of a refugee woman and her kid being hit by car (causing their death) and subsequent clashes at N.Greece Oraiokastro site was extensively covered in daily news. Skai292, Naftemporiki293, Vima tis Ko294, News247295, Newsbeast296, Proto Thema297, ERT298, Ethnos299, Eleftheros Typos300, Efimerida ton Syntakton301 and Kathimerini302 dedicated space for the reportage. Not only were all of the stories’ language was war-journalism oriented (with expressions like wave of frustration, hostilities, shocking clashes, extensive violence being used) but also their use of images added up to a ‘battlefield atmosphere’, with videos depicting violent clashes and special police forces intervention. Focus was exclusively on visible outcomes: from the dead refugees to the driver who hit them and then got almost killed by refugees, clashes between refugees and the police and injured ambulance crew. Here the impression is not just an ‘us versus them’ but an ‘all versus all’ one, a self-fuelling cycle of violence, dehumanizing all parties and operating in a closed space and time setting.

Lesvos: turmoil at Moria hotspot; migrants burn EASO mobile offices Turmoil prevailed at Moria hotspot this morning (24/10). A large number of migrants, about 70, mostly from Pakistan, protested over the long stay and delays over the examination of asylum applications. Asylum Service employees abandoned the premises that the protesting migrants have set on fire. The fire brigade arrived at the hotspot trying to put out the fire. Riot police had entered into the hotspot in an attempt to restore the order.

292 ‘Car hit mother and her two kids at Oraiokastro refugee site’, Skai, 16 October 2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/327866/ix-paresure-mitera-kai-ta-2-tis-paidia-ston-kataulismo- oraiokastrou/ 293 ‘Tension at Oraiokastro: Car hit and killed refugees’, Naftemporiki, 16 October 2016, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1160248/oraiokastro-autokinito-paresure-kai-skotose-duo-prosfuges- entasi-stin-perioxi 294 ‘Oraiokastro: Driver hit refugees outside refugee site. Two dead – clashes’, Vimatisko, 16 October 2016, available at http://vimatisko.gr/?page=news&records=details&_p.id=39920 295 ‘Oraiokastro: Driver hit refugees outside the refugee site. Two dead.’, News 247, 16 October 2016, available at http://news247.gr/eidiseis/koinonia/wraiokastro-odhgos-paresyre-prosfyges-eksw-apo- kentro-filoksenias-duo-nekroi.4320989.html 296 ‘Night full of tension at Oraiokastro fillowing an accident with dead refugees’, Newsbeast, 17 October 2016, available at http://www.newsbeast.gr/greece/arthro/2419847/agria-nichta-entasis-sto-oreokastro- meta-to-distichima-me-tous-nekrous-prosfiges 297 ‘Clashes at Oraiokastro: Car hit refugees – mother and son dead, Proto Thema, 17 October 2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/619966/epeisodia-sto-oraiokastro-autokinito- paresure-prosfuges-mana-kai-gios-nekroi/ 298 ‘Oraiokastro: Night of tension-driver hit and killed two refugees’, ERT, 17 October 2016, available at http://www.ert.gr/oreokastro-nychta-entasis-odigos-paresyre-ke-skotose-dyo-prosfyges/ 299 ‘Tragedy at Oraiokastro’, Ethnos, 17 October 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/tragodia_sto_oraiokastro-64577667/ 300 ‘Shocking video moments after the deadly accident at Oraiokastro’, Eleftheros typos, 17 October 2016, available at http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ellada/44563-sokaristiko-video-liga-lepta-meta-to- thanatiforo-troxaio-sto-oraiokastro/ 301 ‘Sad atmosphere at Oraiokastro following the deadly accident’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 17 October 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/vary-klima-sto-oraiokastro-meta-thanatiforo-trohaio 302 ‘Wave of frustration in Thessaloniki’, 18 October 2016, Kathimerini, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/879638/article/epikairothta/ellada/kyma-orghs-sth-8essalonikh

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Serious damage was caused to about 8 containers/mobile offices of EASO (4 were totally burnt down and extensive damages occurred to the rest). EASO in Moria suspended its operation for today. The fire was finally distinguished by the fire brigade and order was restored by the riot police; 10 arrests were made. There was heavy smoke in the whole area. The residents of the neighbouring village Moria once again protested for the tensions and the damages caused. Turmoil at Moria hotspot gained great publicity, via Kathimerini303, Lesvospost304, Proto Thema305, Enikos306, Ethnos307, Naftemporiki308, CNN Greece309. Both articles and their titles focused on “who is to blame” and damages at EASO office premises at the site prevailed in all of the articles; coupled with images of violence, this story elicits very negative feelings towards refugees. References to “mainly Pakistani migrants” causing the fire have a very dehumanizing effect for this ethnic group. Refugees in general are presented as common arsons, even though there is not even police evidence for such accusations (just local residents’ blaming). There is no context, merely description of material damages and the only reason ‘why’ is said to be “delays on asylum decisions process”. Focus is on ‘our’ plight, with refugees’ voices not being heard, since there seems to be no field research on the events but rather reproduction of the same story.

Chios: unrest at local hotspot Fight broke out between refugees and migrants at the VIAL hotspot on the island of Chios on Wednesday (26/10), while fires were set in rubbish bins on the site. The incidents were sparked during a protest by four women outside the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) office, who began banging on the windows of the EASO to protest delays in the asylum process. The unrest quickly spread until most of the center’s residents were protesting, some causing damage, and riot police officers were called in to restore calm. According to reports, a protesting refugee woman slightly injured a social worker, while she also injured herself. A police spokesman for the northern Aegean region said minor damage was caused to EASO’s offices. EASO

303 ‘Migrants set fire in riot at Lesvos reception center’, 24 October 2016, Ekathimerini, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/213101/article/ekathimerini/news/migrants-set-fire-in-riot-at-lesvos- reception-center 304 ‘Refugees rioting with fire and clashes at Moria’, 24 October 2016, Lesvospost, available at http://www.lesvospost.com/2016/10/blog-post_848.html 305 ‘Refugees rioting at Moria: they set the hotspot on fire’, 24 October 2016, ProtoThema, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/622100/exegersi-sto-hot-spot-tis-morias-metanastes-evalan- fotia-/ 306 ‘Serious damage at EASO’s office in Moria’, 24 October 2016, Enikos, available at http://www.enikos.gr/society/416224/sovares-zimies-sto-evropaiko-grafeio-ypostirixis-asylou-sti- moria 307 ‘Fire again at Moria hotspot, Ethnos, 24 October 2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/stis_floges_ksana_to_hotspot_sti_moria_10_syllipseis- 64595977/ 308 ‘Damage at EASO’s infrastructure at Moria’, 24 October 2016, Naftemporiki, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1163143/katastrofes-se-upodomes-tis-upiresias-asulou-sti-moria 309 ‘Mytilene: Serious damages due to refugees rioting at Moria’, 24 October 2016, CNN Greece, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/51663/mytilini-sovares-zimies-apo-tin-exegersi-ton- prosfygon-sti-moria

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Spokesman Jean-Pierre Schembri said the agency’s 30 staff had to evacuate the camp, suspending interviews. Unrest at Chios VIAL hotspot, causing injuries as well as damage to EASO’s local office, made its way to news headlines; Skai310, Politis Chios311, Chios Press312, iefimerida313, Kathimerini314, Newsit315. Relevant news stories focus on tension, violence and sensationalism, with the question being “who was the aggressor” rather than why the situation has unfolded this way. Articles only refer to damages at EASO offices and violence against local organizations’ staff, with the site described as ‘ready to explode’ (closed time and space element of war journalism). ‘Us versus them’ approach prevails and voices from the field are not heard. Refugees’ despair and subsequent burning of blankets, is not analyzed and only ‘our’ suffering is presented. Riot police intervention is presented as the only way to stop clashes, hence refugees are subtly presented as irrational individuals, only causing damage and not in a position to peacefully resolve their issues.

November 2016 Migration Minister: "Aegean islands to become EU's Ellis island" In an interview with German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung, Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas expressed concern about the country's ability to cope with the refugee crisis, warning that "Greece's Aegean islands will gradually turn into the Ellis Island of the EU," referring to the gateway for millions of migrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The influx of migrants into Greece from Turkey is nowhere close to the levels seen a year ago but hundreds are arriving every week. This story is based on an interview of Migration Minister Mouzalas, covered by Ekathimerini316 and Cretalive317. This is an elite-oriented piece, stressing a Minister’s opinion regarding the refugee crisis. The article’s use of language, making the analogy

310 ‘Clashes and rioting with migrants and refugees at Chios’, 26 October 2016, Skai, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/328895/se-exelixi-epeisodia-kai-sublokes-metaxu-metanaston- kai-prosfugon-sti-hio/#ixzz4OFku68VL 311 ‘Clashes at VIAL’, 26 October 2016, Politischios, 26 October 2016, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/tarahes-sti-bial 312 ‘Rioting at VIAL’, 26 October 2016, Chiospress, 26 October 2016, available at http://www.chiospress.gr/koinonia/53741-anataraxes-sti-vial-vinteo 313 ‘New tensions at Chios’ VIAL-Refugees burned blankets’, 26 October 2016, iefimerida, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/297212/nea-entasi-stin-vial-sti-hio-prosfyges-ekapsan- koyvertes#axzz4hBF15FMu 314 ‘Tensions continue at hotspots’, 27 October 2016, Kathimerini, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/880961/article/epikairothta/ellada/synexizetai-h-entash-sta-hotspots 315 ‘Violent clashes with injuries at Chios hotspot’, 26 October 2016, Newsit, available at http://www.newsit.gr/topikes-eidhseis/Epeisodia-me-ksylo-kai-traymatismoys-sto-hot-spot-tis- Xioy/668319 316 ‘Unrest returns to migrant facility on Chios’, 4 November 2016, Ekathimerini, available at http://www.ekathimerini.com/213424/article/ekathimerini/news/unrest-returns-to-migrant-facility-on- chios 317 ‘Mouzalas: Fear of Greek islands becoming EU’s Ellis island awakens’, 5 November 2016, Cretalive, available at http://www.cretalive.gr/ellada/moyzalas-ksypna-o-fobos-mhpos-ta-nhsia-mas-ginoyn-elis- ailant-ths-ee

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between Ellis island and Greek islands, and referring to current situation as unbearable and unsustainable, elicits feelings of hostility and negativity towards refugees. Once more, the focus is on visible outcomes and in specific refugee flows numbers. ‘Our’ suffering is prioritized and there’s a prevailing climate of tension and fear reproduced via the articles (one of them even includes ‘fear’ on the title).

Markopoulo: 17-year-old Pakistani kidnapped and raped by three countrymen A 17-year-old Pakistani boy that was kidnapped for ransom on October 13 in Markopoulo area, eastern Attica, by three countrymen aged 17, 24 and 30, was released on October 19 after the victim's father paid 5,000 euros (he was initially asked for 50,000 euros). All three perpetrators, AIDS-HIV carriers, who also sexually abused the boy, have been arrested. The victim had reached Kos island last April, and was hosted by Praksis at a shelter for unaccompanied minors until August, when he left in secret to go to Elefsina and join a friend of his. Naftemporiki318, Matrix24319 and Vimatisko320reported on the kidnapping and raping of a young Pakistani boy. The very brief articles limited their role in providing a mere description of the case with no context analysis and no answering to ‘why’ questions. There are unheard voices the journalists didn’t include in their piece. Instead, they all focused exclusively on visible outcomes and more specifically the “who is the aggressor” question. The latter is answered by pointing out, even at the headline, the perpetrators’ ethnic group and illness. This way, via naming and shaming, very negative sentiments can be developed against individuals who belong at the specific groups. Articles’ use of language is also contributing towards an atmosphere of tension and sensationalism, with “shocking details” on the case’s unfolding.

Chios tense after unrest at Souda camp There were concerns on Thursday (17/11) about the situation on the island of Chios after the upheaval at Souda camp late on Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday destroyed much of the premises. It was unclear exactly how the unrest began. Violent incidents were reported for second consecutive night at Souda hotspot. Unknown individuals threw two firebombs at approximately 20:00 on Thursday and at 23:00 more firebombs and firecrackers were launched against the camp. 150 families of refugees abandoned their tents and sought protection to a nearby building. Meanwhile, a man and a woman, solidaires rushing to assist refugee families, were reportedly beaten by extreme-right supporters, and had to be transferred to the hospital. In addition, a refugee man was attacked by unknown individuals.

318 ‘Artemida: kidnapped 17-year-old is also rape victim’, 7 November 2016, Naftemporiki, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1168450/artemida-thuma-biasmou-17xronos-pou-eixe-apaxthei 319 ‘17-year-old Artemida kidnapped kid also falls victim of rape’, 7 November 2016, Matrix24, available at http://www.matrix24.gr/2016/11/thima-viasmou-o-17chronos-pou-iche-apachthi-stin-artemida/ 320 ‘Young Pakistani who had left Kos falls victim of rape from AIDS carriers’, 11 November 2016, Vimatisko, available at http://vimatisko.gr/?page=news&records=details&_p.id=40630

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Greek police said they detained 37 migrants after rioting during which fires were set. According to police sources, the trouble began late on Wednesday when migrants allegedly looted two local stores, stealing liquor and fireworks. They are then alleged to have let off the fireworks close to the camp, startling nearby residents. Later, according to police, a group of around 100 migrants set up a roadblock near the reception center and started throwing stones and fireworks at nearby police units. Riot police officers responded by raiding the premises. Volunteers working with migrants and refugees on the island gave a different version of events, however, claiming that members of far-right groups attacked the center, pelting it with stones, provoking the migrants to retaliate. Riot police then stormed the center to restore order. On Thursday morning (17/11), Chios Mayor Manolis Vournous contacted Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas before the latter departed for Brussels, asking for the said center on the island to be closed down. It is to be reminded that earlier this month, Mouzalas had pledged to close the center and transfer migrants and refugees to a new, larger facility but that has yet to be found. Further tension and clashes at Chios Souda site gathered a lot of media attention, with Skai321, iefimerida322, Politischios323, Kathimerini324, AMNA325, Era-Aegean326 and Eleftheria327 reporting on it. The articles were war-oriented, with their titles including the words “chaos”, “beating”, “clashes”, “tension”. Their approach was on an ‘us versus them’ approach, with refugees and migrants reported to be attacking citizens and far-right individuals going against solidaires. The focus was on visible effects, with images from damages and videos of clashes accompanying the texts. Time and space was closed, with ultimatums being handed and the need to immediately stop the site’s operation being highlighted. Furthermore, articles’ approach was unbalanced, with only ‘our’ suffering being presented and voices from the field not being heard. It is indicative that only one article presented volunteers’ perspective, which was quite different to the mainstream version328.

321 ‘New clashes at Chios Souda-Mayor asks for the site to be immediately evacuated’, 18 October 2016, Skai, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/331160/nea-epeisodia-sti-souda-tis-hiou-na- ekkenothei-o-kataulismos-zitaei-o-dimarhos/#ixzz4QLN28ouF 322 ‘Chaos at Chios hotspot: Molotof bombs and fire at the site-migrants causing clashes’, 18 October 2016, iefimerida, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/301973/haos-sto-hotspot-hioy-molotof- kai-fotia-ston-kataylismo-epeisodia-apo-metanastes-vinteo#axzz4hBF15FMu 323 ‘Mayor Vournou’s ultimatum to Mouzalas goes unanswered’, 18 November 2016, Politischios, available at http://www.politischios.gr/politiki/anapantito-telesigrafo-boyrnoy-se-moyzala 324 Tania Georgiopoulou, ‘Immediate seizing of Chios Souda site’s operation’, 18 November 2016, Kathimerini, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/884067/article/epikairothta/ellada/amesh-diakoph- leitoyrgias-toy-kataylismoy-ths-soydas-sth-xio 325 ‘New clashes at Chios refugee and migrants’ site’ 18 October 2016, AMNA, available at http://www.amna.gr/articlep/131891/Nea-epeisodia-se-kataulismo-prosfugon-kai-metanaston-sti-Chio 326 Thodoris Pyliotis, ‘Second night of tension at Souda site-beating of two solidaire citizens’, 18 November 2016, Era-Aegean, available at http://www.era-aegean.gr/?p=19578 327 ‘Chios: Second night of clashes at Souda refugee site’, 18 November 2016, Eleftheria, available at http://bit.ly/2qNUwOG 328 Minas Konstantinou, ‘Far-right offensive prior to refugees’ “uncalled” rioting at Chios’, 18 November 2016, Thepressproject, available at https://www.thepressproject.gr/article/102965/Xios

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Turkish Prime Minister, President threaten to flood Europe with migrants Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım warned Thursday (24/11) EU member- states that without Ankara’s help Europe would be “flooded” by waves of migrants, noting that the suspension of EU accession talks for Turkey would be more damaging to the European continent than to Turkey. “We are one of the elements that protects Europe. If refugees cross our borders, they will flood and inundate Europe, and Turkey prevents that from happening,” he said in statements broadcast live by Turkish television. Earlier in the day, the European Parliament had voted in favor of freezing talks with Turkey because of the Turkish government’s “disproportionate” reaction in the failed coup of July 15. In a related development, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned today (25/11) that Turkey could open its gates for migrants to Europe if pushed by the European Union. “If you go any further, these border gates will be opened”. Turkish officials’ statements on refugee flows and the EU produced a lot of war- journalism articles from namely most of Greek main news agencies, including Skai329, Lifo330, Tovima331, Protothema332, Ethnos333, Kathimerini334 and Politischios335. Articles highlighted, from the very headlines, the statement on “flooding Europe with refugees”. However, the entire PM and President’s declarations were on an ‘us versus them’ and zero sum basis, with Turkey threatening Europe via the refugee crisis. All of the articles exclusively focused on those leading figures’ statements, ending up with very elite-oriented perspectives, away from local peacemakers and unheard voices on the field. Not to mention, presenting refugees merely as a tool on international politics negotiations further dehumanizes them and only elicits responses focusing on ‘security’ and ‘how to keep the flows low’.

December 2016 Chios: Syrian arrested for beating toddler at Souda Authorities have arrested a Syrian asylum-seeker accused of abusing a three- year old toddler at Souda camp on Chios. The 31-year-old, who claims to be the father

329 ‘Yildirim threatens Europe with refugee “flooding”’, 24 November 2016, Skai, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/world/article/331866/gildirim-i-diakopi-ton-diapragmateuseon-tha- plimmurisei-me-metanastes-tin-europi-/#ixzz4QzrBTjHi 330 ‘Yildirim threatens Europe with refugee waves’, 24 November 2016, Lifo, available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/world/122779 331 ‘Turkey threatens Europe: You will flood with refugees’, 24 November 2016, Tovima, available at http://www.tovima.gr/world/article/?aid=846914 332 ‘Turkey threatens to flood Europe with immigrants’, Protothema, 25 November 2016, available at http://en.protothema.gr/turkey-threatens-to-flood-europe-with-immigrants/, 333 ‘We will flood Europe with refugees’, 25 November 2016, Ethnos, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/tha_plimmyrisoume_tin_europi_me_prosfyges-64697848/, 334 ‘Big disappointment at Ankara’, 25 November 2016, Kathimerini, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/885099/article/epikairothta/kosmos/entonh--dysforia-sthn-agkyra, 335 ‘Refugee crisis a weapon of continuous threatening for Ankara’, 25 November 2016, Politischios, available at http://www.politischios.gr/politiki/oplo-diarkoys-ekbiasmoy-sta-heria-tis-toyrkias- prosfygiko

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of the boy, was nabbed after footage of him beating the three-year-old inside a shower was shared on social media. It was not clear who or why filmed the incident. The boy was handed over to a non-government organization which is active in protecting underage children. The man claims that he has a wife and another child waiting in Turkey, and he filmed the abuse in his desperate effort to persuade his spouse to come to Chios. Police, the anti-terrorist unit and the National Intelligence Service are involved into the case, as there are photos of the man posing with guns, believed to have some sort of connection with ISIS. The incident regarding a Syrian, accused of beating a toddler at Chios Souda site, was reported by Lifo336, Kathimerini337, Skai338, Typosthes339, Real.gr340, ERT341, Ethnos342 and Politischios343. Articles information on the perpetrator vary, with some of them presenting the perpetrator as the toddler’s father and some of them as an ISIS fighter. What is, however, evident is that the “who was the aggressor” question lies at the heart of analysis. Naming of the individual’s ethnic group, together with accusations for links to ISIS, contribute to dehumanizing and feelings of animosity towards Syrian refugees. What is striking is that there’s not even attempt of analyzing the ‘why’ factor, there’s only descriptions of the event and of the official accusations to be pressed against the individual.

Chios: refugees, migrants at Souda protest lack of electricity, heating; hunger strike About 100 people in Souda begun this morning a hunger strike, protesting inter alia about lack of electricity and heating, and the quality of the food offered by NRC. Using slogans such as “we are humans not animals” and “give us our freedom”, they are demanding an immediate improvement of the living conditions, otherwise they are warning that they will mobilize to protest in the center of the town of Chios, as reported

336 ‘Shock at Chios due to children abuse at Suda site’, 13 December 2016, Lifo, available at http://www.lifo.gr/now/greece/125276 337 ‘Chios: Syrian refugee, who posted online a toddler abuse video, arrested’, 14 December 2016, Kathimerini, available at http://www.kathimerini.gr/887780/article/epikairothta/ellada/xios-synelhf8h- syros-prosfygas-poy-anhrthse-vinteo-me-thn-kakopoihsh-agorioy 338 ‘Youth abuse video at Chios refugee site-Perpetrator’s relation with ISIS being examined’, Skai, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/333618/video-kakopoiisis-anilikou-ston- kataulismo-tis-xiou-exetazetai-i-shesi-tou-drasti-me-ton-isis/#ixzz4SnhwPJX2 339 ‘Syrian who posted video with toddler abuse arrested’, Typosthes, 14 December 2016, available at http://www.typosthes.gr/gr/topika/astinomika-koinonika/article/116956/sunelifthi-31hronos-pou- anirtise-video-me-kakopoiisi-3hronou-agoriou/ 340 ‘Chios: 31-year-old Syrian abusing toddler arrested-relationship with ISIS under scrutiny’, 14 December 2016, Real.gr, available at http://www.real.gr/DefaultArthro.aspx?page=arthro&id=561765&catID=14 341 Thodoris Pyliotis, ‘Father was abusing his toddler in Chios refugee site-torturing video posted online’, 14 December 2016, ERT, available at http://www.ert.gr/pa-teras-vasanize-agoraki-se-katavlismo-tis- chiou-anartithike-to-video-tou-vasanismou/ 342 ‘Chios: 3-year-old boy tortured by Jihadi individual?’, 14 December 2016, Ethnos, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/xios_tzixantistis_o_drastis_pou_basanise_to_3xrono_agoraki_vi deo-64757180/ 343 ‘Doctor to examine abused refugee kid’, 14 December 2016, Politischios, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/exetasi-apo-iatrodikasti-gia-kakopoiimeno-prosfygopoylo

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by local Politis Chios. Police forces and the Coast Guard have surrounded Souda site, while access has been forbidden to non-refugees. Vice-Mayor of Chios, Giorgos Karamanis, stated ”After the incident in Mytilene, UNHCR decided to replace the gas heaters with electric ones. In order for the network to be able to cope, we have been asked to upgrade this. I thought this cost of electricity should be assumed by UNHCR. The use of electricity in Souda cannot be passed on the citizen of Chios, who is already very stretched due to the refugee situation. UNHCR and its local staff here on Chios did not agree to this, and as a result valuable time was lost and nothing has been done although we are at the end of December. There is currently electricity but heaters are being used in the site and the existing lines cannot bear this, that is why we have interruptions”. Temperature at night reaches 2 degrees Celsius, and tragic conditions are worsened also by the lack of water during the last six days. The damage has not yet been restored. Another rumor that has spread increasing tensions is that in the next 15 days returns will begin to take place back to Turkey. Media reported on refugees’ hunger strike and protests at Chios Souda site; Politischios344, iefimerida345, Ethnos346, Star347, Tovima348, Eleftheros Typos349, Alitheia350 and (again) iefimerida351 posted relevant stories. However, most of the articles refer to the visible effects of violence, namely protests, the hunger strike and lack of electricity and water. Invisible, structural and cultural, effects are ignored even though refugees seem to be pointing out at them on relevant photos (via holding plackets reading “we are humans, not animals”). There’s elite orientation, with only the Mayor being interviewed. What’s more, the interview’s approach is ‘us versus them’, with the municipality getting into a blame game with UNHCR regarding the site’s condition. In addition, there’s an unbalanced, focusing on ‘our’ plight approach, with the Mayor arguing that locals won’t be paying for refugees use of electricity.

344 ‘Hunger strike and protests at Souda site’, 19 December 2016, Politischios, available at http://www.politischios.gr/koinonia/apergia-peinas-kai-kinitopoiiseis-ston-kataylismo-tis-soydas 345 ‘Refugee protests at Souda site-they started a hunger strike’, 19 December 2016, iefimerida, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/308217/kinitopoiiseis-apo-toys-prosfyges-ston-kataylismo-tis- soydas-xekinisan-apergia-peinas#axzz4hBF15FMu 346 ‘Explosive situation at Souda site-refugees started a hunger strike’, 19 December 2016, Ethnos, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/ekriktiki_h_katastasi_ston_kataulismo_tis_soudas_ksekinisan_ap ergia_oi_prosfyges_vid-64772380/ 347 ‘INHUMAN conditions at Chios’ Souda! No electricity and water at the hotspot’, 19 December 2016, Star, available at http://www2.star.gr/ellada/350919/apanthrwpes-synthhkes-sth-soyda-ths-xioy-den- yparxei-hlektriko-kai-nero-sto-hot-spot 348 ‘Chios: hunger strike and protests at the Souda site’, 19 December 2016, Tovima, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=852723 349 ‘Hundreds of refugees started a hunger strike at the Chios hotspot’, 19 December 2016, Eleftherostypos, available at http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ellada/62928-dekades-prosfyges-xekinisan- apergia-peinas-sto-hot-spot-tis-xioy/ 350 ‘Protest at Souda due to lack of heating’, 19 December 2016, Alithia, available at http://www.alithia.gr/koinonia/diamartyria-sti-soyda-gia-tin-elleipsi-thermansis-xios 351 ‘No electricity and water in the Chios Souda site-refugees in despair’, 19 December 2016, iefimerida, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/308153/horis-reyma-kai-nero-o-kataylismos-tis-soydas-sti- hio-apelpismenoi-oi-prosfyges-eikones#axzz4hBF15FMu

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The Independent: Frontex warns ISIS is weaponising refugees

In a story352 published Monday (26/12), The Independent argues that the ISIS terror group may be trying to manipulate refugees into carrying out terrorist attacks. It is also feared that ISIS will sneak in trained fighters among the mass movements of people fleeing war. “Some people might get radicalized or manipulated or used or utilized by terrorist groups after they enter the EU,” Fabrice Leggeri, executive director of Frontex, said. “This is something for which I don't have clear indications”, he added.

The Independent’s story on ISIS manipulating and weaponising refugees was reproduced by several Greek media; Enikos353, Zougla354, Real.gr355, iefimerida356 and Imerisia357. Relevant articles are full of sensationalist titles (eg alarm from Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees for terrorist attacks), coupled with ISIS-related, violent pictures. Even though the Frontex official’s actual comment is that “some people might get radicalized”, all stories’ titles present this as a given (it should be noted that Independent’s original article falls into the same fallacious deduction). All of the above result in profound dehumanization and hatred against refugees. Europol’s report is used in the same way; even though it brings up the possibility of refugees getting radicalized, it is presented as if further validating something already presented as having taken place.

352 Shehab Khan, ‘European border agency Frontex wans ISIS is weaponising refugees’, The Independent, 26 December 2016, available at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/europe- border-frontex-warns-isis-weaponising-refugees-terrorism-radicalisation-a7496771.html 353 ‘Alarm from Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees in order to conduct terrorist strikes’, 27 December 2016, Enikos.gr, available at http://www.enikos.gr/international/427060/synagermos-apo-tin-frontex- tzixantistes-exoplizoun-prosfyges-gia-tromokratikes-epitheseis 354 ‘Alarm from Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees in order to conduct terrorist strikes’, 27 December 2016, Zougla.gr, available at http://www.zougla.gr/kosmos/article/sinagermos-apo-ti-frontex-tzixantistes- eksoplizoun-prosfiges-gia-tromokratikes-epi8esis 355 ‘Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees for terrorist strikes’, 27 December 2016, Real.gr, available at http://www.real.gr/DefaultArthro.aspx?page=arthro&id=565172&catID=4 356 ‘Frontex warns: Jihadis equip refugees for terrorist strikes’, 27 December 2016, iefimerida, available at http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/309645/i-frontex-proeidopoiei-tzihantistes-exoplizoyn-prosfyges-gia- tromokratikes-epitheseis#axzz4hXaUSj5E 357 ‘Alarm from Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees for terrorist attacks’, 27 December 2016, Imerisia, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26511&subid=2&pubid=114355433

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3. Conclusions-Findings Having selected, classified and analyzed peace and war journalism articles, now the paper will proceed with an overview of findings and conclusions. It should be noted that an effort was made to expand research in all online media sources in order not to exclude any story. Researched resources analytical breakdown can be found in Annex A. Out of the initial pre-selection of 2484 articles, 100 were finally chosen for the purposes of this analysis, 49 War (appearing in 97 newspapers) and 51 Peace Journalism ones (appearing in 58 newspapers). Selection was based on the following criteria: i) topic closely related to the refugee crisis, ii) topic covered (where possible) by a variety of sources, for information cross-referencing purposes, iii) as much as possible, equal representation of War and Peace Journalism articles, iv) variety of topics, in order to have a more comprehensive view of how PJ and WJ way of reporting appears on the news, v) coverage of all geographical locations with main refugee sites, namely islands, North and Central Greece, Ioannina and Athens.

Peace Journalism PJ, as developed by Johan Galtung and Jake Lynch, seems to be more rarely adopted by Greek media, with regards to refugee crisis and for the period under consideration. Exceptions to the rule do exist, but someone needs to really search or be specifically looking for them in order to spot them. This is mainly because they rarely make the headlines. Local agencies as well as a couple of ‘big’ newspapers hosted most of this study’s PJ-oriented pieces. More specifically, Kathimerini358 and Efimerida ton Syntakton hosted many PJ articles while Lifo and The Press Project provided a few alternative stories, with NGO and field people’s perspectives, as well as collection of testimonies. This way, they brought the human side in the coverage forefront. Modes of reporting come with their own vocabulary ‘arsenal’. For PJ stories, key words were solidarity, humanity, personal story, volunteerism, future, hope, creativity and skills. Themselves, those words point towards a compassionate, cooperative approach and come with positive connotations. As mentioned at the paper’s first part, media face various constraints in their effort to report on daily news. Amongst them are financial constraints, staff capacity and possible institutional constraints (permission to report on certain events). Naturally, Greek news agencies don’t escape those realities. And this could well be the reason why, in several cases, Greek media reproduced investigative journalism stories published in well-established international media. A good example is Guardian’s story of Kunkush, the cat that reunited with the 6-member, single headed family in Norway, with the help of Lesvos volunteers and residents359; Wall Street Journal’s detailed story

358 Interestingly enough, Kathimerini’s English version seems to be richer in PJ-oriented articles, with 10 of them appearing in this study in comparison to 7 of the newspaper’s Greek edition. 359 John Domokos, Fred McConnell and Ekaterina Ochagavia, ‘The Epic journey of a refugee cat to find its family’, The Guardian, 19 Feb. 2016, available at

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on the Athens and Piraeus smuggling market360; Reuters in-depth reportage on the psychological health of refugees or New York Times featured story on the current condition of villagers after rescuing refugees and migrants361. Moreover, similar constraints resulted in peace initiatives, such as the memorandum of cooperation between Lesvos, Lampedusa and Barcelona, not being covered by any media and hence not being reproduced. The study’s first part also highlighted it is not just about the story per se, but the way it is reported that contributes in the making of PJ. To that end, it should be highlighted that even though some of the reviewed stories fulfilled all of the pre- conditions for a PJ article to be produced, coverage was made in a fallacious way. The FRONTEX vessel report piece is just an example, with rescuers’ and survivors’ interviews missing. Similarly, the joint ‘Let’s Keep Chios Beautiful’ initiatives, with both refugees and locals participating, was presented with no interviews, missing its human dimension. The same with the story about the Syrian monument restorer, who voluntarily offered his know-how to the city of Livadeia. In some occasions, local portals seemed to not have knowledge on how to cover a story under PJ principles. Insufficient coverage of the initiative to collect used runners for refugees is indicative. What is more, there seemed to be an overall lack of ‘other side’s’, namely refugees and migrants, stories. Last but not least, stories of shipwrecks were rarely covered. As a matter of fact, and as already mentioned above, only one Greek news portal wrote a story on Somalian survivors. Such testimonies remain in the dark, even though most of the media reports on a daily basis regarding number of rescued individuals and number of casualties.

War Journalism War journalism pieces seem to be more frequent in news agencies daily reporting (again, for the researched period and for the refugee crisis related pieces). Not only that, but most of the times they make it to the headlines, with sensationalism being complemented by images of violence. It is to be noted that lots of WJ pieces of big publicity were almost mere reproductions of an initial text, with no further research or information cross-check. All of the reviewed agencies hosted plenty of WJ-oriented articles, with Skai and Proto Thema being the main sources but also local agencies like Politis-Chios and Vima-tis-ko (both from islands) leaning towards the WJ type of journalism. As expected, WJ’s vocabulary ‘arsenal’ was quite different than the PJ one. Key words were violence, tension, threat, security, problem, crisis and defense. As one can

https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2016/feb/19/refugee-family-who-fled-iraq-are-reunited- with-cat-video 360 Nektaria Stamouli, ‘Inside the Migrant – Smuggling Trade: Escapes Start at € 1000’, Wall Street Journal, 29 March 2016, available at https://www.wsj.com/articles/european-border-crackdown-kick- starts-migrant-smuggling-business-1459260153 361 Liz Alderman, ‘Greek Villagers Rescue Migrants. Now they are the ones suffering’, New York Times, 17 Aug.2016, available at https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/world/europe/greece-lesbos- refugees.html

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easily understand, those words come with negative connotations, elicit negative feelings and point out to rivalry, hatred and a competitive approach. The very same media constraints mentioned in the PJ part are also evident when examining WJ publications, but with different outcomes. Financial and time constraints might have contributed in media merely copying ‘popular’, WJ-oriented stories, for the sake of the agency gaining attention (via ‘clicks’) without the need to conduct (financially and time consuming) in-depth research in order to uncover the conflict’s roots. Thus, research gets replaced by elite-orientation publications, simply presenting politicians’ and other leading figures’ statements who, however, most of the times are not familiar with ground conditions and might as well have their own (hidden) agenda. Numbers (arrivals, casualties, injuries etc) replace human stories. As theory suggests, the way a conflict and especially violence is presented in the media has a profound impact in determining people’s reactions. News media has a potent role, a heavy responsibility, in furthering tensions (Powers and O’Loughlin, 2015, p.6) as “they prepare, consciously or unconsciously, the premises for a dramatic choice” (Galtung, 2006, p. 4). “News is a factor in the sequence of cause and effect” (Lynch 2003), so ‘just reporting the facts’ without taking any sort of responsibility, can sometimes further fuel conflict. WJ articles impact is evident in the reviewed pieces’ comments section. What one notices there is that readers, consciously or unconsciously, become part of the ‘problem’; they post very aggressive comments, reproduce one- sided, unbalanced approaches and attack whoever disagrees with them. WJ articles titles become ‘mottos’ at people’s lips, which makes their reproduction even more rapid and destructive.

Concluding Remarks For Galtung, WJ is simply ‘passé, a relic of the past’ (Lynch & Galtung, 2010, p.17). Yet, this kind of journalism seems to dominate Greek media representation of the refugee crisis in 2016. This study’s research concluded that WJ articles appear more frequently in online media than PJ ones. What is more, WJ articles are dominant in mainstream, national news agencies and gain very big publicity; while in general PJ stories more often appear in local news agencies and almost remain unknown. Content-wise, it should be noted that refugees’ trauma and invisible effects of structural and cultural violence were very rarely researched and reported. Visible violence, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. By not examining the roots, we miss most of the story and can’t propose accurate solutions. Most of the articles made reference either to the past or present, with questions on the future not being touched upon. Unbalanced approaches were very common, with a profound dehumanizing, especially for migrants, effect instead of efforts to better understand them. Moreover, the so-presented two-parties conflict between hosted and host communities is in fact much a more complicated situation, with migrants, EU countries and institutions, NGOs, volunteers, solidaires, far right or left political groups being part of the actual picture as well. Last but not least, much attention was attributed to elites, NGO agencies and ‘official’ sources, to the detriment of other means of information. Similarly, the

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focus in exclusively on ‘us’, with data on other countries tackling aspects of the refugee crisis being from very scarce to not present at all. A survey conducted by Dianeosis362 shows the very limited knowledge of Greek people regarding several aspects of the refugee crisis. This is an unexpected revelation, given relevant stories were published by all media on a daily basis. A similar survey (with less samples), conducted by Public Issue363 in April 2016, shows that Greeks’ attitudes towards refugees are negative. When it comes to refugees’ integration, Greeks tend to remain skeptical. It is precisely those two surveys’ findings that confirm WJ’s profound effect on Greek society’s perceptions over the refugee crisis and refugees themselves.

362 Georgakopoulos Theodoros, ‘Refugee Crisis and Greeks: a Research’, Dianeosis, Feb. 2016, available at http://www.dianeosis.org/2016/02/oi-ellines-kai-to-prosfygiko-provlima/ 363 Public Issue, ‘Greece: attitudes towards the refugee crisis’, Political Barometer 155, April 2016, available at http://www.publicissue.gr/12875/varometro-apr-2016-ref/

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ANNEX A List of online media sources (in alphabetical order): -Aftodioikisi.gr, http://www.aftodioikisi.gr/ -Alexandria mou, http://www.alexandriamou.gr/ -Alfavita, http://www.alfavita.gr/ -Alithia, http://www.alithia.gr/ -Altsantiri, http://www.altsantiri.gr/ -AMNA, http://www.amna.gr/ -Antenna, http://www.antenna.gr/ -Astraparis, http://www.astraparis.gr/ -Athens Magazine, http://www.athensmagazine.gr/ -Avgi, http://www.avgi.gr/ -Business News, http://www.businessnews.gr/ -Capital.gr, http://www.capital.gr/ -Cnn.gr, http://www.cnn.gr/ -Dianeosis, http://www.dianeosis.org/ -Dikaiologitika.gr, http://www.dikaiologitika.gr/ -Dimokratiki.gr, http://www.dimokratiki.gr/ -Efimerida Syntakton, http://www.efsyn.gr/ -Ekathimerini, http://www.ekathimerini.com/ -Eleftheros Typos, http://www.eleftherostypos.gr/ -Emprosnet, http://www.emprosnet.gr/ -Enikos.gr, http://www.enikos.gr/ -Epiruspost.gr, http://www.epiruspost.gr/ -Era-Aegean, http://www.era-aegean.gr/ -ERT, http://www.ert.gr/ -Ethnos, http://www.ethnos.gr/ -Euro2day, http://www.euro2day.gr/ -Express.gr, http://www.express.gr/ -Gazzetta.gr, http://www.gazzetta.gr/plus

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-Greek Reporter, http://greece.greekreporter.com/ -Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/ -Iatronet.gr, http://www.iatronet.gr/ -iefimerida.gr, http://www.iefimerida.gr/ -Imerisia, http://www.imerisia.gr/ -In.gr, http://www.in.gr/ -Insider.gr, http://www.insider.gr/ -Ipop.gr, https://ipop.gr/ -Karfitsa.gr, http://www.karfitsa.gr/ -Kathimerini, http://www.kathimerini.gr/ -Keep Talking Greece, http://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/ -Klik.gr, http://www.klik.gr/gr/el/ - Kos News, https://www.kosnews24.gr/ -Leros News, http://www.lerosnews.gr/ -Lesvos News, http://www.lesvosnews.gr/ -Lesvos Post, http://www.lesvospost.com/ -Lifo.gr, http://www.lifo.gr/ -Makedonia, http://makthes.gr/ -Naftemporiki, http://www.naftemporiki.gr/ -Neos Kosmos, http://neoskosmos.com/news/el -New Post, http://www.newpost.gr/ -News 247, http://news247.gr/ -Newsbomb.gr, http://www.newsbomb.gr/ -Newsit.gr, http://www.newsit.gr/ -News Makedonias, https://news.makedonias.gr/ -Parallaximag, http://www.parallaximag.gr/ -Patras Events, https://www.patrasevents.gr/ -Politis Chios, http://www.politischios.gr/ -Protagon.gr, http://www.protagon.gr/ -Proto Thema, http://www.protothema.gr/

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-Reporter.gr, http://www.reporter.gr/ -Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/ -Rodiaki, https://www.rodiaki.gr/ -Seleo.gr, http://www.seleo.gr/ -Skai, http://www.skai.gr/ -Sofokleousin.gr, http://www.sofokleousin.gr/ -Solidarity Salt, https://www.solidaritysalt.com/ -Star TV, https://tvstar.gr/ -Sto Kokkino, http://www.stokokkino.gr/ -Ta Nea, http://www.tanea.gr/ -Tharros News, http://www.tharrosnews.gr/ -The Dome Project, http://thedomeproject.net/ -The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/international -The Independent, www.independent.co.uk/ -The Journey of Halima, http://www.thejourneyofhalima.com/ -The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/ -Thessalia TV, http://www.thessaliatv.gr/ -The Press Project, https://www.thepressproject.gr/ -The Toc, http://www.thetoc.gr/ -To Pontiki, http://www.topontiki.gr/ -To Vima, http://www.tovima.gr/ -To Vima (English) http://www.tovima.gr/en/ -TVXS, http://www.tvxs.gr/ -Typos Thessalonikis, http://www.typosthes.gr/ -Viotia Net, http://viotianet.gr/ -Voria.gr, http://www.voria.gr/ -Xanthi Press, http://www.xanthipress.gr/

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ANNEX B War and Peace Journalism Photos: because images sometimes speak louder than words. I. War Journalism Photos in Greek online media

‘Mysterious Briton set up an illegal mosque in Lesvos’, Euro2day, 14 Jan.2016, available at http://www.euro2day.gr/news/highlights/article-news/1390828/o-mysthriodhs-agglos-poy-esthse- paranomo-tzami-sth.html

‘From Syndos until Kos, chaos for the hotspots’, Proto Thema, 6 Feb.2016, available at http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/551006/kos-kleinoun-oi-katoikoi-ti-prosvasi-sto-stratopedo- pou-tha-ginei-hot-spot-/

‘They hanged a head of pig in Schisto hotspot - “They are humanoid reptiles crawling in the ground”’, To Pontiki, 23 Feb.2016, available at http://www.topontiki.gr/article/160751/kremasan-goyroynokefali- sto-hotspot-toy-shistoy-einai-anthropoeidi-erpeta-poy

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‘Clashes break out between Syrians and Afghans in Piraeus’, To Vima, 31 March 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/en/article/?aid=788705

‘Shock in Piraeus – He tried to attack coast guards with a baby!’, Skai, 6 Apr.2016, available at http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/311788/sok-ston-peiraia-prospathise-na-epitethei-me-vrefos- stous-limenikous-/#ixzz452cXR6nk

‘FYROM: 15 injured policemen after the Idomeni incidents’, CNN Greece, 10 April 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/28336/pgdm-dekapente-astynomikoi-traymatistikan-sta- epeisodia-stin-eidomeni

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‘Violent clashes among refugees at the Samos accommodation center’, To Vima, 2 June 2016, available at http://www.tovima.gr/society/article/?aid=804850

‘Fire in Souda refugee camp in Chios’, Huffington Post, 6 June 2016, available at http://www.huffingtonpost.gr/2016/06/06/metanasteutiko-fotia-kataulismos-xio_n_10321424.html

‘Leros: Fire was caused by arson – Four injured from hotspot clashes’, Rodiaki, 18 September 2016, available at http://www.rodiaki.gr/article/347467/leros-se-emprhsmo-apodidetai-h-pyrkagia-tesseris- traymaties-apo-symplokh-sto-hotspot

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‘Tension at Oraiokastro: Car hit and killed refugees’, Naftemporiki, 16 October 2016, available at http://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1160248/oraiokastro-autokinito-paresure-kai-skotose-duo-prosfuges- entasi-stin-perioxi

Stratis Balaskas, ‘New clashes at Chios refugee and migrants’ reception center’, AMNA, 18 November 2016, available at http://www.amna.gr/articlep/131891/Nea-epeisodia-se-kataulismo-prosfugon-kai- metanaston-sti-Chio

‘Alarm from Frontex: Jihadis equip refugees for terrorist attacks’, Imerisia, 27 December 2016, available at http://www.imerisia.gr/article.asp?catid=26511&subid=2&pubid=114355433

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II. Peace Journalism Photos in Greek online media

Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Lesvos: Heaven and Hell’, Lifo, 13 Jan.2016 available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/86517

Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Arrivals give a new sense of hope’, Lifo, 26 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84912

Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘Lifo presents a unique project for the refugee crisis during Christmas holidays in Lesvos’, Lifo, 15 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84809

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Nikoleta Kondouli, ‘Male refugees have a particular role in the crisis’, Lifo, 27 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84989

Melina Sidiropoulou, ‘3rd day: People of Lesvos. Residents of the island and volunteers from all around the world show their solidarity’, Lifo, 27 Dec.2015, available at http://www.lifo.gr/articles/society_articles/84985

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‘They turn material from life-vests and rubber boats in useful items’, Ethnos,7 Jan.2016, available at http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/metatrepoun_ta_ylika_ton_sosibion_kai_ton_lembon_se_xristika _antikeimena-64312804/

‘These are the opponents of the Greek islanders for the Nobel’, CNN Greece, 1 Feb. 2016, available at http://www.cnn.gr/news/ellada/story/20206/antipaloi-ton-ellinikon-nision-gia-to-nobel

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‘A refugee cat finds his family which lost in Lesvos’, TVXS, 23 Feb. 2016, available at http://tvxs.gr/news/kala-nea/enas-gatos-prosfygas-ksanabriskei-tin-oikogeneia-poy-exase-sti-lesbo- binteo

Dina Daskalopoulou, ’44,360 big thank you wishes’, Efimerida ton Syntakton, 1 May 2016, available at https://www.efsyn.gr/arthro/44360-megala-eyharisto

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‘A special football match of ‘Megas Alexandros’ team of Trikala and a team of refugees who are hosted in Alexandria municipality’, Alexandiamou, 27 Apr. 2016,available at http://www.alexandriamou.gr/athlitika/jexoristos-agonas-podosferoy-toy-m-alexandroy-trikalalon-me- omada-prosfygon-poy-filojenoyntai-sto-dhmo-alejandreias.html

Iassonas Karamitros, ‘The Greeks who take refugees at home’, Protagon, 9 June 2016, available at http://www.protagon.gr/epikairotita/i-oikogeneia-pou-pire-tous-prosfyges-spiti-tis-44341159224

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