Discussing citizen journalism in Greece

On Monday the 21st October at the Tellogleiou Foundation of Art, Thessaloniki and 22nd October at the Drakopoulos Room at the Kapidostrian university of Athens there will be a conference on citizen journalism.


"Η πρώτη web tv συνάντηση της ακαδημαϊκής κοινότητας με τη δημοσιογραφία θα εξετάσει τη νέα μιντιακή πραγματικότητα στις εργασίες της διεθνούς επιστημονικής ημερίδας με τίτλο "Συμμετοχική Δημοσιογραφία: Blog και Νέα Μέσα". Την Διημερίδα διοργανώνει το Τμήμα Δημοσιογραφίας και Μέσων Μαζικής Επικοινωνίας του Α.Π.Θ. στις 20 & 21 Οκτωβρίου 2008 στη Θεσσαλονίκη και σε συνεργασία με το Καπποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο αντίστοιχα στην Αθήνα. Μέσα στις σελίδες του δικτυακού τόπου περιλαμβάνονται πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη Διημερίδα."


"The first web television meeting between the academic society and journalism will examine the media reality. The meeting is organized by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of the Aristotle University of Communication on October 20th & 21st , 2008 in Thessaloniki in cooperation with the National Kapodistrian University of Athens."


I hope to take part in what promises to be a very interesting discussion into the way in which blogs and other web 2.o innovations will impact on the traditional media landscape. Up to now blogging in Greece has had a lot of bad press from TV and newspapers. It has been connected with accusations of blackmail and political intrigue. The fact that some of the most popular Greek language blogs have some pretty unsavoury far right content, spring boards for the worst kind of nationalistic and racist rhetoric does not help either.

However, I believe that many of these teething problems will be overcome in the very near future when internet access and literacy becomes more widespread. This is already happening at a rate quicker than I dared hoped, at least judging from the example of the students I teach.

Speakers at the meeting will include Dan Gillmor, author and lecturer on issues connected with participatory journalism. For more information and interviews from Greek blogger, Asteris Masouras (Oneiros.gr) on last weeks press conference click here. If you can't make it you can follow the event live by clicking here.