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Vitriol in the Media Adds Drama to Talks on Greek Bailout As Insults Fly in the Greek and German Media, Some Wish for Less News
(about 2 hours later)
ATHENS — As a nightly news anchor for Skai TV in Greece, Sia Kossioni closely monitors Germany, checking the latest remarks from German politicians, studying public opinion polls and reading the German news media to learn what they are saying about the Greek bailout negotiations. She even speaks German. ATHENS — As a nightly news anchor for Skai TV in Greece, Sia Kossioni closely monitors Germany, checking the latest remarks from German politicians, studying public opinion polls and reading the German news media to learn what they are saying about the Greek bailout negotiations. She even speaks German.
Ms. Kossioni is not alone in her obsession — the entire Greek news media is obsessed with Germany. (The German media is fascinated with Greece, too.) This is not surprising, given that Greece is staring at default on its debt and economic disaster, possibly as early as June, unless it can reach a deal with creditors — and Germany is its biggest creditor and the most immovable objector to concessions.Ms. Kossioni is not alone in her obsession — the entire Greek news media is obsessed with Germany. (The German media is fascinated with Greece, too.) This is not surprising, given that Greece is staring at default on its debt and economic disaster, possibly as early as June, unless it can reach a deal with creditors — and Germany is its biggest creditor and the most immovable objector to concessions.
So every blunt utterance from Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, can dominate the news, as can the typically more opaque remarks from Chancellor Angela Merkel. Even backbench German lawmakers — whose views might be ignored in their own country’s news media — can merit airtime in Greece by tossing a rhetorical grenade about the bailout.So every blunt utterance from Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s finance minister, can dominate the news, as can the typically more opaque remarks from Chancellor Angela Merkel. Even backbench German lawmakers — whose views might be ignored in their own country’s news media — can merit airtime in Greece by tossing a rhetorical grenade about the bailout.
“The German politicians are covered as if they are our politicians,” Ms. Kossioni said recently at her office, where translated German news reports were stacked on her desk. “We wake up and we know what the German newspaper headlines are, what the basic articles are.”“The German politicians are covered as if they are our politicians,” Ms. Kossioni said recently at her office, where translated German news reports were stacked on her desk. “We wake up and we know what the German newspaper headlines are, what the basic articles are.”
How the mutual media fascination might influence the delicate bailout negotiations is its own point of discussion. Some analysts and politicians have sharply criticized the news coverage, even as politicians or their proxies have frequently leaked information from the negotiating room, often with strategic intent.How the mutual media fascination might influence the delicate bailout negotiations is its own point of discussion. Some analysts and politicians have sharply criticized the news coverage, even as politicians or their proxies have frequently leaked information from the negotiating room, often with strategic intent.
At the same time, the rivalry between Mr. Schäuble and his Greek counterpart, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, has transformed what might have been a story about the mechanics of restructuring debt — not to mention the fate of the eurozone — into one that is also about a clash of personal styles and egos. Mr. Schäuble has seemed to relish tweaking the government in Greece, surely knowing that his remarks will make headlines there.At the same time, the rivalry between Mr. Schäuble and his Greek counterpart, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, has transformed what might have been a story about the mechanics of restructuring debt — not to mention the fate of the eurozone — into one that is also about a clash of personal styles and egos. Mr. Schäuble has seemed to relish tweaking the government in Greece, surely knowing that his remarks will make headlines there.
“I would actually welcome, from both sides, less microphones, less interviews,” said Jens Bastian, a German financial consultant in Athens and a former member of the European Commission’s task force on Greece.“I would actually welcome, from both sides, less microphones, less interviews,” said Jens Bastian, a German financial consultant in Athens and a former member of the European Commission’s task force on Greece.
Not so many years ago, the average Greek probably knew or cared little about what, if anything, Germans were saying about them. But in the Internet age, an entire nation of Greeks can track every shift in German public opinion — and every blast from the German newspaper Bild. Not so many years ago, the average Greek probably knew or cared little about what, if anything, Germans said about them. But in the Internet age, an entire nation of Greeks can track every shift in German public opinion — and every blast from the German newspaper Bild.
“Lies From Bild Again About I.M.F.!” screamed a recent banner headline stretched over two pages of a Greek newspaper, Dimokratia, referring to the International Monetary Fund, a major Greek creditor.“Lies From Bild Again About I.M.F.!” screamed a recent banner headline stretched over two pages of a Greek newspaper, Dimokratia, referring to the International Monetary Fund, a major Greek creditor.
The tensions recently heightened because the January election of Greece’s left-wing, anti-austerity government, led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Syriza party, was seen as a direct rebuke to Germany, which many Greeks blame for five years of punishing economic policies that led to the current showdown.The tensions recently heightened because the January election of Greece’s left-wing, anti-austerity government, led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his Syriza party, was seen as a direct rebuke to Germany, which many Greeks blame for five years of punishing economic policies that led to the current showdown.
Giorgos Tragkas, one of Greece’s most popular radio show hosts, estimates that he has done 1,500 programs about Germany on radio or television since the onset of the financial crisis in 2009.Giorgos Tragkas, one of Greece’s most popular radio show hosts, estimates that he has done 1,500 programs about Germany on radio or television since the onset of the financial crisis in 2009.
“When I speak about Merkel,” he said, “I get 100 text messages at the same time saying: ‘Bravo!’ ‘Keep it Up!’ ‘Keep Bashing Her!’ ” “When I speak about Merkel,” he said, “I get 100 text messages at the same time saying: ‘Bravo!’ ‘Keep it Up!’ ‘Keep Bashing Her!’ ”
And so he does. Mr. Tragkas — a controversial figure in Athens who has been linked to allegations of tax evasion — once put Ms. Merkel on the cover of his political magazine, Crash, in shackles and an orange Guantánamo-style jumpsuit.And so he does. Mr. Tragkas — a controversial figure in Athens who has been linked to allegations of tax evasion — once put Ms. Merkel on the cover of his political magazine, Crash, in shackles and an orange Guantánamo-style jumpsuit.
He also unsuccessfully sought to sue her and other European officials for crimes against humanity in Greece. Now he just pillories them — with gloves off — on weekday mornings from the studios of Real FM in Athens.He also unsuccessfully sought to sue her and other European officials for crimes against humanity in Greece. Now he just pillories them — with gloves off — on weekday mornings from the studios of Real FM in Athens.
“Our creditors, the Germans — our extortionists, our pimps — the only thing they haven’t asked Syriza for is that we provide our firstborn daughters to some German on their wedding night,” Mr. Tragkas said recently, tapping his feet in the studio.“Our creditors, the Germans — our extortionists, our pimps — the only thing they haven’t asked Syriza for is that we provide our firstborn daughters to some German on their wedding night,” Mr. Tragkas said recently, tapping his feet in the studio.
The German doppelgänger to Mr. Tragkas is Bild, which signaled its anti-Greek sentiments in February as Mr. Tsipras was seeking an interim agreement with Germany and other creditors. “NEIN!” Bild screamed in a huge blue and white headline, as it declared, “Not One More Billion for the Greedy Greeks!” — and encouraged readers to pose for selfies with the same message.The German doppelgänger to Mr. Tragkas is Bild, which signaled its anti-Greek sentiments in February as Mr. Tsipras was seeking an interim agreement with Germany and other creditors. “NEIN!” Bild screamed in a huge blue and white headline, as it declared, “Not One More Billion for the Greedy Greeks!” — and encouraged readers to pose for selfies with the same message.
All of which has made life complicated for Liana Spyropoulou, who worked for 14 years as a political reporter for a Greek newspaper before the financial crisis pushed it out of business. Now, after a period of unemployment, she is the Greece correspondent for Bild and works with a rotating team of German journalists.All of which has made life complicated for Liana Spyropoulou, who worked for 14 years as a political reporter for a Greek newspaper before the financial crisis pushed it out of business. Now, after a period of unemployment, she is the Greece correspondent for Bild and works with a rotating team of German journalists.
“When we are doing a story, and we say we are from Bild,” she said, “people are like this” — she recoiled and grimaced — “but it is only for about five seconds. Then they are very polite and nice.”“When we are doing a story, and we say we are from Bild,” she said, “people are like this” — she recoiled and grimaced — “but it is only for about five seconds. Then they are very polite and nice.”
Ms. Spyropoulou demurred when asked about the infamous “NEIN!” headline, but she said that Bild also provided extensive coverage of the negative effect of austerity policies in Greece and had even raised the question of whether Germany still owed reparations to Greece for crimes of the Nazis.Ms. Spyropoulou demurred when asked about the infamous “NEIN!” headline, but she said that Bild also provided extensive coverage of the negative effect of austerity policies in Greece and had even raised the question of whether Germany still owed reparations to Greece for crimes of the Nazis.
“We publish many good stories,” she said. “The problem is the Greek media never translates them. They are translating every story that is not good. Bild is always the bad guy. I don’t know why.”“We publish many good stories,” she said. “The problem is the Greek media never translates them. They are translating every story that is not good. Bild is always the bad guy. I don’t know why.”
The cross-border vitriol ebbs and flows, and some analysts have fretted that the sensationalism and obsessive coverage have only made the negotiations more difficult. Mr. Varoufakis, who has become a global celebrity in just four months, has regularly complained about news media coverage and posted rejoinders on his personal blog.The cross-border vitriol ebbs and flows, and some analysts have fretted that the sensationalism and obsessive coverage have only made the negotiations more difficult. Mr. Varoufakis, who has become a global celebrity in just four months, has regularly complained about news media coverage and posted rejoinders on his personal blog.
In late March, Marc Brost, a German journalist with Die Zeit, argued that the nationalistic media atmosphere was one of the factors undermining the negotiations and making compromise more difficult. In late March, Marc Brost, a German journalist with Die Zeit, argued that the nationalistic media atmosphere was one of the factors undermining the negotiations and making compromise more difficult. “We don’t have a pan-European media, only national knee-jerk reactions,” Mr. Brost wrote, adding, “All over Europe, every newspaper, every TV station caters to its own national audience.”
“We don’t have a pan-European media, only national knee-jerk reactions,” Mr. Brost wrote, adding, “All over Europe, every newspaper, every TV station caters to its own national audience.”
The tensions often manifest outside the news media. In Athens, lawmakers with To Potami, a party that favors accommodation with Germany and other creditors, have complained that subway stations in Athens are presenting a documentary on Greek war reparations claims against Germany.The tensions often manifest outside the news media. In Athens, lawmakers with To Potami, a party that favors accommodation with Germany and other creditors, have complained that subway stations in Athens are presenting a documentary on Greek war reparations claims against Germany.
At the newsroom of Skai TV in Athens, Ms. Kossioni said that her network focused on objectivity, rather than sensationalism, and that most Greeks loved German products and held no ill will toward Germans. (“Half of our tourists are German,” she said. “It is not about people. It is about policy.”)At the newsroom of Skai TV in Athens, Ms. Kossioni said that her network focused on objectivity, rather than sensationalism, and that most Greeks loved German products and held no ill will toward Germans. (“Half of our tourists are German,” she said. “It is not about people. It is about policy.”)
A few weeks ago, Ms. Kossioni dedicated several minutes of her newscast to footage from skits on a satirical German television program, “Die Anstalt,” or “The Institution.” The skits had already gone viral online in Greece because they were pro-Greek, which alone counted for news.A few weeks ago, Ms. Kossioni dedicated several minutes of her newscast to footage from skits on a satirical German television program, “Die Anstalt,” or “The Institution.” The skits had already gone viral online in Greece because they were pro-Greek, which alone counted for news.
“It was just that somebody in Germany supports us,” said Ms. Kossioni. “So that was an issue for us.”“It was just that somebody in Germany supports us,” said Ms. Kossioni. “So that was an issue for us.”
With her fluent German, Ms. Kossioni has scored interviews with officials like Mr. Schäuble. (“I found him friendly and personable,” she said.) But she says much of the debate is driven by leaks intended to provoke reactions from one country or the other.With her fluent German, Ms. Kossioni has scored interviews with officials like Mr. Schäuble. (“I found him friendly and personable,” she said.) But she says much of the debate is driven by leaks intended to provoke reactions from one country or the other.
In spite of the leaks, the translations and other noise, Ms. Kossioni said the media was still mystified by what was happening in the negotiations.In spite of the leaks, the translations and other noise, Ms. Kossioni said the media was still mystified by what was happening in the negotiations.
“We really don’t understand what is going on,” she conceded. “This is a problem, a huge problem.” “We really don’t understand what is going on,” she said. “This is a problem, a huge problem.”