Radical Journalism: Lessons from Greece

Focusing on the case of Greece, this chapter sketches a new paradigm of radical journalism. The author argues that this new paradigm is radical in five ways: in terms of its organisation, in terms of the identities of its producers, in terms of its orientations vis-à-vis the political establishment and the society, in terms of its contents, and in terms of its relationship with readers and the public.

Taken together, these show a new radical role for journalism, focusing on addressing the present needs of a society in crisis. According to the author, journalism’s political role was far too long annexed to a Gramscian understanding of hegemony and the role of intellectuals who agitate and persuade. The rise of a new radical journalism signifies a more fundamental and organic relationship of journalism to society that requires more than agit prop. Radical journalists are not seeking to lead or to agitate or to report disconnected from society. Rather, this journalism born of the crisis and operating as critique can be seen as a journalism of praxis or doing: this is why the emphasis is more on building or restoring social relationships, rather than in legitimising existing ones as in the case of liberal journalism. This shows a new avenue and political role for journalism, in which it becomes an integral part of society and in which it is firmly oriented towards social needs.