Journal of Co-operative Studies 54(4), 72-81

Abstract

While there is a history of co-operative enterprise in Greece, this has been largely limited to “traditional” (agricultural) kinds of co-operatives. Until recently there was no co-operative activity in the field of media and more generally the press business. The economic crisis of 2010 created opportunities to develop new modes of entrepreneurial activity in the co-operative sector. In this context, and following the collapse of Eleftherotypia, a national daily newspaper, Efimerida ton Syntakton — the Journalists’ Newspaper — a leftist progressive paper, was established in Greece in 2012, saving the jobs of the co-operative’s members. Indirectly owned by its employees, the Journalists’ Newspaper is an important example of co-operative journalism in Greece. It has proved to be a successful experiment surviving within a turbulent environment. It claims to support quality journalism, is presently financially viable, and intends to continue as a co-operative. This article draws on secondary data which is further informed by structured and semi-structured interviews with a key member of the co-operative to describe their experience of the creation and development of the newspaper. 

References

Allen, M. (2017). The SAGE encyclopedia of communication research methods. Sage. http://doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411.n37

Anthopoulou, T., Kaberis, N., & Petrou, M. (2017). Aspects and experiences of crisis in rural Greece. Narratives of rural resilience, Journal of Rural Studies, 52,1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.03.006

Associated Press (2021). About Us. https://www.ap.org/about/

Boucas, D., & Iosifidis, P. (2020). Alternative digital journalism in Greece under conditions of austerity. In A. Karatzogianni, & A. Veneti, A. (Eds.), The Emerald Handbook of Digital Media in Greece. Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83982-400-520201032

Boyle, D. (2012). Good news: A co-operative solution to the media crisis. Co-operative UK. https://www. uk.coop/resources/good-news-co-operative-solution-media-crisis

Douvitsa, I. (2020, February). Legal framework analysis. National report: Greece. ICA. https://coops4dev. coop/en/4deveurope/greece

EfSyn (2021). The story of Efsyn. https://www.efsyn.gr/istoria-tis-efsyn

Fefes, M. (2007). European institutions of social economy: Ι. The European Co‑operative Society.Sakkoulas Publications.

Fefes, M. (2013). Greek and Italian co-operative movement: A brief comparison. In K. Bregianne & H. Gardika-Katsiadake (Eds.), Agricultural cooperatives in South and Central Europe, 19th ‑ 20th century: a comparative approach (pp. 101-116). Athens Academy.

Fefes, M. (2020). The Greek anti-paradigm: How legislation on agricultural co-operatives caused their failure. International Journal of Cooperative Law, No. III, pp. 46-61. https://iuscooperativum.org/issues/

Fouquet, E., Michaud, M., Audebrand, L. K., & Guilotte, C-A. (2021). Journal of Co‑operative Studies,54 (4), 82-91.

Hallin, D., & Papathanassopoulos, S. (2002). Political clientelism and the media: southern Europe and Latin America in comparative perspective. Media, Culture & Society, 24 (2), 175–195. https://doi.org/10.1177/016344370202400202

Harvey, R. (2020, September 30). Co-op journalism: The role of user-led and member-owned media. Co-op News. https://www.thenews.coop/150461/sector/co-op-journalism-the-role-of-user-led-and- member-owned-media/

Iliopoulos, C. (2000, September 22-24). The evolution of the Greek cooperative law: from the first to the last order of economizing. [Paper presentation]. Fourth Annual Conference of the International Society for New Institutional Economics, Tüibengen, Germany

International Co-operative Alliance [ICA]. (2018a). Co-operative identity, values and principles. https:// www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/cooperative-identity

International Co-operative Alliance [ICA]. (2018b). Facts and figures. https://www.ica.coop/en/cooperatives/facts-and-figures

International Co-operative Alliance [ICA]. (2020). World Cooperative Monitor: Exploring the cooperative economy 2020. EURICSE/ICA. https://monitor.coop/en/media/library/research-and-reviews/world- cooperative-monitor-2020

Iosifidis, P., & Boucas, D. (2015). Media policy and independent journalism in Greece. Open Society Foundations. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/media-policy-and-independent- journalism-greece

Light, P.C. (2008). The search for social entrepreneurship. Brookings Institution Press.

Mouzelis, N. & Pagoulatos, G. (2004). Civil society and citizenship in postwar Greece. In F. Birtek & T. Dragona. (Eds.), Citizenship and nation state in Greece and Turkey (pp. 87-103). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203311462

Nasioulas, I., Fefes, M., & Ioakimidis, A. (2017). National report Greece. COOPilot Project. https://www. coopilot-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/National-Report-GREECE-COOPilot.pdf

Papadopoulou, L. (2020). Alternative hybrid media in Greece: An analysis through the prism of political economy. Journal of Greek Media & Culture, 6 (2), 199-218. https://doi.org/10.1386/jgmc_00013_1

Papathanassopoulos, S. (2001). Media commercialization and journalism in Greece. European Journal of Communication, 6 (4), 505-521. https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323101016004004

Petrou, M & Koutsou, S. (2014). Between the city and the field. Investigating the socio-professional profile of new farmers on the occasion of the “Young Farmers Installation Program”. The Greek Review of Social Research, 143, 3-32. https://doi.org/10.12681/grsr.129

Restakis, J. (2016). Humanizing the economy: Co-operatives in the age of capital. New society Publishers

Sheffield, H. (2018, September 13). Are media coops the business model of the future? Columbia Journalism Review. https://www.cjr.org/business_of_news/new-internationalist.php

Siapera, E., & Papadopoulou, L. (2016). Entrepreneurialism or cooperativism? An exploration of cooperative journalistic enterprises. Journalism Practice, 10 (2), 178-195. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512 786.2015.1125760

Siapera, E., Papadopoulou, L., & Archontakis, F. (2015). Post-crisis journalism: Critique and renewal in Greek journalism. Journalism Studies, 16 (3), 449-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/1461670X.2014.916479

Smith, L. (2016 July 28). Success of unique cooperative newspaper proves “truth still sells” in Greece. International Network of Street Papers (INSP). https://insp.ngo/voulelis-efimerida-ton-syntakton-cooperative-newspaper-greece/

Spyridakis, M., & Dima, F. (2017). Reinventing traditions: Socially produced goods in Eastern Crete during economic crisis. Journal of Rural Studies, 53, 269-277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2017.04.007

Spyridakis, M., & Fefes, M. (2018). Pursuing success. The case of two agricultural cooperatives in Peloponnese. Political Science Notebooks, 9, 69-98.

Voinea, A. (2021). Comparing media-based co-operatives: What is the appeal of co-operative organisations for independent journalists? Journal of Co‑operative Studies, 54(4), 63-71. https://doi.org/10.61869/DJOX4794