The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ) organized a two-day joint training program at the facilities of the School of Advanced Training and Professional Development (Continuing Education) of the Hellenic Police in Northern Greece in Veria, creating a shared training environment for media professionals and security personnel.

The initiative, supported by the OSCE and conducted under the scientific supervision of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, brought together representatives of the security services and media professionals, focusing on the exchange of best practices and a practical approach to crisis management. Its objective was to develop common practices and strengthen cooperation in the field during the coverage of crises and high-risk incidents. The training concluded with participants gaining practical tools and collaborative strategies for covering high-risk events safely and effectively.

(Photo: https://www.facebook.com/dkirmikiroglou )

Secretary General for Communication and Information, Dimitris Kirmikiroglou, addressing the trainees, noted, among others, that the joint training of journalists and security personnel brings together two professional communities that are often required to operate under conditions of tension, such as demonstrations and social mobilizations. Through this process, both sides gain a better understanding of each other's roles and needs.

He stressed that the ICSJ has successfully translated ideas and proposals into practical initiatives with tangible results, while highlighting the role of training and systematic cooperation in fostering a culture of mutual respect and a deeper understanding of each other's roles. The Secretary General further emphasized that the State consistently supports initiatives that strengthen the safety of journalists and promote institutional dialogue among all stakeholders, noting that safeguarding freedom of information is a fundamental prerequisite for the proper functioning of democracy.

Professor Nikos Panayiotou of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Director of the Peace Journalism Laboratory and Head of the ICSJ, stressed that this training forms part of a series of initiatives implemented since the establishment of the ICSJ. As he explained, these initiatives not only enhance the country's international profile but, more importantly, bring to the forefront of public discussion the issues facing journalists, particularly those related to their safety while carrying out their professional duties and fulfilling their vital role.

He noted that the initiative, implemented with the support of the OSCE, seeks to address a range of critical issues arising in the practice of journalism during crisis situations, with particular emphasis on relations and interactions with security forces. According to Professor Panayiotou, this issue has proven to be of major importance, as significant challenges have emerged over time that require meaningful responses and practical solutions. "Our goal is to provide solutions in the field, not theoretical approaches detached from reality," he said, while also expressing his satisfaction with the work carried out by the ICSJ. "We address the real challenges journalists face in their work and strive to tackle them through practical interventions and initiatives," he concluded.

Christos Frangonikolopoulos, Dean of the School of Economics and Political Sciences at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, referred to the importance of the training implemented by the International Center for the Safety of Journalists. As he noted, at a time when freedom of expression—and journalists' freedom in particular—faces significant challenges, initiatives that promote understanding and cooperation among all stakeholders are essential. The attacks and pressures faced by journalists, whether through social media or while covering events in conflict zones and other critical situations, make such initiatives all the more necessary, he emphasized.

He described the seminar as particularly important, as it helps inform the security services—and especially the Hellenic Police—about the framework within which journalists operate, their rights and responsibilities, and the unique conditions they face in carrying out their profession. At the same time, he stressed that free and independent journalism is a fundamental prerequisite for pluralism and diversity of voices in a democratic society. He added that state support and the cultivation of relationships based on mutual understanding between journalists and public institutions contribute to strengthening the journalistic profession.

The training concluded with the presentation of certificates of participation to all attendees by the Commandant of the School, Sofia Gaitanidou, and the Training Coordinator, Dr. Ilias Nikezis, Executive Director of the International Center.

(Source: “Veria: The International Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals Focuses on Crisis Coverage and Field Incident Management”,  https://www.amna.gr/ )

The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ)has an educational and research focus. Regarding the educational focus, ICSJ utilizes the material and tools of the academic community and provides specialized training to journalists and media professionals. Regarding the research focus, the Center implements extended research on topics related to the safety of journalists and media professionals, both in war zones and in crisis, as well as threats against them, connected with everyday work, such as physical, legal, economic, freedom of expression and cyber security issues. In parallel, ICSJ aims to develop support tools, as well as a supportive network for journalists and media professionals that operate in war zones and crises. ICSJ acts under the scientific responsibility of the Peace Journalism Laboratory, Department of Journalism and Media, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Read also:

Greece announced a three-year roadmap for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists

Greece Strengthens Global Efforts to Protect Journalists and End Impunity

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The Secretary General for Communication and Information, Dimitris Kirmikiroglou, participated as Greece’s National Focal Point at the 4^th Annual Meeting of National Focal Point Representatives of the OSCE Programme on the Safety of Journalists and Media Freedom, held in Bern, Switzerland on 15–16 April 2026 (cover photo: https://media.gov.gr). Greece has been participating in the OSCE Programme on the Safety of Journalists since August 2022 and has been recognized as a “Spotlight Case” country for the implementation of best practices.

Within the framework of the meeting, which was hosted at the Bernerhof building with the participation of representatives from 25 OSCE member states, the Secretary General for Communication and Information presented Greece’s progress in implementing “Decision No. 3/18” on the Safety of Journalists, adopted by the Ministers of OSCE participating States. In particular, he referred to:

• Law 5253/2025, which incorporates the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and establishes the framework for the Hellenic Media Council,
• the National Strategy for Media Literacy,
• the funding of the SLAPP Observatory (strategic lawsuits against public participation) of POESY, and
• the institutional guarantees of editorial independence.

The Representatives of the OSCE National Focal Points for the Safety of Journalists in Bern (Source: https://media.gov.gr)

As Mr. Kirmikiroglou emphasized, “the press is under attack globally—from violence, powerful economic interests, and illiberal regimes that invest in controlled algorithms rather than critical voices. The responses must be collective and decisive. Greece is fully committed to reforms that will strengthen the media and safeguard press freedom as an indispensable prerequisite for a healthy democracy.”

The reforms implemented by the Greek government for the press—as one of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law and democracy—attracted significant international interest during the discussions, highlighting Greece as a reference country for reforms in the field of media.

At the same time, the General Secretariat for Communication and Information, investing in the younger generation, is developing partnerships with universities, establishing Regional Media Hubs to foster local information ecosystems, and implementing the “Cultivating Critical Readers” program in schools across the country.

A central element of Mr. Kirmikiroglou’s presentation was the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, as incorporated in Article 40 of Law 5253/2025. This constitutes the country’s first comprehensive strategic framework, with a three-year horizon, for the protection of media professionals. The Plan is structured around eight Strategic Pillars, with specific objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and draws on best practices from countries with established experience in protecting journalists. The roadmap for implementing the Action Plan foresees the launch of the consultation process in May 2026, including a series of regional workshops across the country, with completion scheduled for September 2026.

A central role in the Plan is played by the International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ) at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, which serves as an official partner of the OSCE for the 2025–2026 period. In March 2026, the ICSJ organized in Thessaloniki the 3^rd Annual International Conference “Bearing Witness: Trauma and Resilience in Modern Journalism,” as well as the 3^rd Training School “Journalists’ Safety” at the Multinational Peace Support Operations Training Center in Kilkis.

Speaking at the 3rd Annual International Conference “Bearing Witness: Trauma and Resilience in Modern Journalism,” Mr. Kirmikiroglou had explained that the main pillars of the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists will include: physical safety and cooperation with the police and the justice system, following the models of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom; digital safety, including the establishment of a Digital Protection Center and the implementation of Article 4 of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) to prohibit the use of spyware against journalists; tackling abusive lawsuits; training and capacity-building; media literacy and public awareness; research, data collection, and continuous monitoring; international engagement; and specific provisions for women journalists, freelancers, and exiled journalists.

The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ)has an educational and research focus. Regarding the educational focus, ICSJ utilizes the material and tools of the academic community and provides specialized training to journalists and media professionals. Regarding the research focus, the center implements extended research on topics related to the safety of journalists and media professionals, both in war zones and in crisis, as well as threats against them, connected with everyday work, such as physical, legal, economic, freedom of expression and cyber security issues. In parallel, ICSJ aims to develop support tools, as well as a supportive network for journalists and media professionals that operate in war zones and crises. ICSJ acts under the scientific responsibility of the Peace Journalism Laboratory, Department of Journalism and Media, of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

Bearing Witness: Trauma and Resilience in Modern Journalism. A moment captured at the close of the 3rd Annual International Conference on Journalist Safety. Two days of meaningful dialogue, shared expertise, and a collective commitment to a safer and more trauma-informed media landscape. The International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists and Media Professionals (ICSJ), under the scientific responsibility of the Peace Journalism Laboratory of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, remains committed to advancing this work through specialized training, research, and support for journalists in war zones and crisis environments.

(Source: https://www.facebook.com/icsj.net/)

Read also:

Greece Strengthens Global Efforts to Protect Journalists and End Impunity

The post Greece announced a three-year roadmap for the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Journalists are essential to democratic societies. They hold power to account, expose corruption and abuse, inform citizens during crises, and help safeguard other human rights. Yet around the world they face threats, harassment, arbitrary detention, and murder—often without justice. When crimes against journalists go unpunished, public trust erodes and democracy itself is weakened.

In response to this global challenge, the United Nations, under the leadership of Greece, adopted the landmark General Assembly resolution “The Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity”, for the first time, in 2013. The resolution established international commitments to protect journalists and ensure accountability for crimes committed against them, proclaiming 2 November as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists.

Since the adoption of the resolution, Greece has played an active diplomatic and normative role in promoting UN attention to the safety of journalists and the fight against impunity. Beyond supporting the original 2013 resolution (UNGA Resolution A/RES/68/163), Greece has tabled and championed subsequent biennial resolutions at the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, ensuring that the issue remains high on the international agenda.

Through consensus-building and collaboration with partners across regions, Greece has helped secure broad co-sponsorship and adoption of these resolutions. Its public statements at UN forums have consistently emphasized the importance of accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of journalists in both physical and digital spaces, including attention to gender-based threats faced by women journalists.

Greece also co-chairs, together with France and Lithuania, the Group of Friends on the Protection of Journalists, a cross-regional initiative aimed at advancing practical solutions and political momentum. During Greece’s May 2025 Presidency of the UN Security Council, journalist safety was highlighted within discussions on the Protection of Civilians, underscoring the link between freedom of the press and broader human-rights and security concerns.

More recently, Greece has taken a leading role in advancing protection for journalists reporting on climate change and environmental issues. Led by Greece alongside a core group including Austria, Argentina, Costa Rica, France, and Tunisia, the most recent resolution (18.11.2025) focuses on the heightened risks faced by journalists covering environmental destruction and climate policy.

The resolution unequivocally condemns all online and offline attacks, reprisals, and violence against journalists and media workers reporting on these issues and calls for impartial, speedy, thorough, and independent investigations to ensure accountability. It recognizes that environmental journalists play a crucial role in informing the public and holding governments and corporations accountable, yet are increasingly targeted through violence, arbitrary detention, legal harassment, and intimidation.

Beyond journalists’ safety, Greece has also contributed to discussions on freedom of expression online. It has engaged with the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, supporting findings that highlight the risks posed by inadequate content moderation, engagement-driven business models, and overreliance on automated systems by major social media platforms. These issues disproportionately affect journalists and vulnerable voices, particularly in times of crisis and polarization.

Since 2012, the United Nations has adopted multiple resolutions across the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, the Security Council, and UNESCO addressing journalist safety and impunity. Together, they form a global framework for action. The challenge now is implementation—turning agreed principles into protection, justice, and prevention.

As Greece continues to play a bridging, solutions-oriented role at the United Nations, the effectiveness of these efforts will ultimately be measured not by resolutions alone, but by whether journalists can do their work safely, freely, and without fear. Journalist safety is not an abstract UN issue. It is a public issue—one that shapes how societies understand truth, accountability, and democracy itself.

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Ruben Östlund's film, “Triangle of Sadness,” has received three nominations for this year’s Academy Awards. The film, written and directed by Östlund and shot partly at Chiliadou Beach on the Aegean side of Evia, has been nominated for the “Best Film,” “Best Director,” and “Best Original Script” categories at this year’s Academy Awards. The natural landscape of Chiliadou Beach emerged as one of the protagonists of the film, as the location  was featured as the castaway island where the characters find themselves after the explosion of the yacht. Chiliadou Beach was also the winner of the sixth edition of the 2022 EUFCN (European Film Commissions Network) Location Award, the award for best European location in the film and TV industries organized by EUFCN. A Greek production company, Heretic, founded by award-winning producers Giorgos Karnavas and Konstantinos Kontovrakis, was heavily involved in the making of “Triangle of Sadness,” which also shot scenes onboard the luxury yacht “Christina O” off the coast of Ilia, in the western Peloponnese. The 95th Academy Awards will take place this Sunday March 12.

“Triangle of Sadness,” is just one of the many films being shot in Greece the last five years. The incentives given in 2018 to attract foreign producers have since been increased to a 40% cash rebate on expenses and to include a 30% tax relief, as well as a national network of Film Offices to assist with production, are attracting big Hollywood productions, well-known actors and equally big budgets. As Fortune reports, Greece is becoming a hotspot for foreign films lately: "besides the financial incentives, among Greece's advantages are the long hours of sunshine, which allow crews to cram a lot of filming into one day, bringing down production. Nowadays, the sight of crews shooting films, documentaries or commercials in Athens is common. The industry in Greece may still be in its infancy, but it is growing at a high rate."

According to the latest data provided by the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication-EKOME, the organization promoting audiovisual production in Greece that runs the cash rebate, tax relief initiatives and the film offices network, Greek production, especially film and television, has exploded: To date (November 2022), 273 projects (films, series, animation, videogames, post-production) have been included in the financial incentives of EKOME. Of these, 158 are Greek, and 115 are foreign productions from all over the world. Filming takes place all over the country -in over 200 locations, the total investment is close to 500 million euros and according to the data of the production companies they have created close to 70,000 jobs. Large companies with high-cost productions consistently choose Greece for filming: Universal, Disney, Amazon, Paramount, Warner, Netflix, Apple TV, Millenium Media, are among those that film their productions in Greece, making it one of the top filming destinations in Europe and the world. As a result, major investors are eyeing Greece for a permanent presence, namely for the development of sound stages across the country.

As Panos Kouanis, EKOME’s president has noted, besides the financial incentives, Greece has another advantage, the country itself is a vast natural studio: As well as the archaeological sites unique to Greece, the country offers is a great variety in landscapes, from coastlines and sand dunes, to waterfalls, mountains and forests, as urban landscapes that range from the medieval and the classical to the industrial. “Also, we have qualified and experienced film professionals and in all the stages of film production (soundstages, production equipment, post-production houses, VFX, animation studios, and digital games development studios). Greek crews are highly skilled, very dedicated, very resourceful, and above all, willing to meet the needs of every production. Greek professionals are highly qualified and very experienced in collaborating with foreign partners.”

Markos Holevas, the chairman of the board of the Greek Film Center (EKK-EFC), has also talked about Greece´s winning combination of financial incentives and beautiful natural sets: "If you want to shoot a scene where the Acropolis is even faintly visible in the background, even with today’s technology you would prefer to do it with the real Acropolis and not with computer graphics, If your experience is positive, you may come again. If you have financial incentives and a positive experience, you will definitely come again".  The Greek Film Center and especially the Hellenic Film Commission, also contributes in the direction of promoting audiovisual production in Greece, by providing support to foreign productions in a number of issues, such as financing opportunities, finding locations for filming, issuing required permits, contact with Greek professionals in the field, etc. The Hellenic Film Commission, usually the first point contact of foreign producers with the local cinema market, has launched the Location Support Program, which finances location scouting costs and has so far, financed 16 projects, which have either already been filmed in Greece or are planning to be filmed in the near future.

Among the 300 projects that have chosen Greece as their destination for production are David Cronenberg's Cannes nominated Crimes of the Future, Netflix's “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” featuring Daniel Craig, famous for his 15-year stint as James Bond, Disney+'s Rise, the biographical sports drama based on the real-life story of Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo and his brothers, the first trio of brothers to become NBA champions in the history of the league, the Expendables 4 starring Andy Garcia, Megan Fox and Sylvester Stallone, action thrillers like the Bricklayer with Aaron Eckhardt and The Enforcer with Antonio Banderas, Apple TV +'s acclaimed Tehran series (S1-S2) as well as episodes of season 3 of Amazon’s “Jack Rayan” starring John Krasinski. Tin Soldier, a major motion picture featuring Hollywood stars Robert De Niro and Jamie Foxx was shot last year in northern Greece and is now in post-production.

Locations such as the small Saronic island has of Spetses have been even been the set for the production for two major Hollywood productions: as well as the above mentioned, Netflix’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” arthouse film “The Lost Daughter,” starring Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman was filmed there in 2021.

Read also from Greek News Agenda: Filming Greece | EKOME President Panos Kouanis explains why Greece is your next filming destination

I.L.

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Located on the easternmost of the three promontories of the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece, Mount Athos is a place where spirituality, unspoiled natural landscapes, and unique cultural treasures come together under one “roof”. For the ancient Greeks, this mountain -which descends directly into the Aegean Sea- was sacred to Zeus. Greek Mythology has it that in a clash between the Giants and the Olympian Gods, a Giant from Thrace named Athos threw a massive rock against Poseidon which fell into the sea and became the Athonite Peninsula. According to another version of the story, Poseidon used the mountain to bury the defeated giant.

This sacred area still holds a certain aura of mystery for many Greeks and foreigners. An Orthodox spiritual center since 1054 as well as a recognized artistic site, Mount Athos has enjoyed an autonomous statute since Byzantine times. It is commonly referred to as the 'Holy Mountain' (Ayion Oros in Greek) or the “Garden of the Mother of God”, as it is dedicated to one woman whom all the monks honor and pray, namely the Virgin Mary; according to this tradition and Mt Athos’ Protocol, this is why it is forbidden for women to enter by any means or stay anywhere in the monastic state (a prohibition which is called “Avaton” in Greek).

Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1988, Mt Athos consists of 20 monasteries – 17 Greek, one Russian, one Serbian, and one Bulgarian – along with their dependencies (12 skites and around 700 houses, cells, or hermitages) which are home to approximately 2,000 monks. And while the architecture and the buildings themselves may be the most striking, attracting thousands of visitors every year from all over Europe and beyond, there is also an extraordinary collection of well-preserved artifacts, rare books, ancient documents, and artworks of immense historical value.

As of December 2020, the cultural treasures of Mount Athos have become digitally accessible to all through “Athos Digital Heritage”, the largest digital culture project in Greece, completed over the course of four years. The aim of the project was to safeguard the Athonite State’s wealth of cultural artifacts, through the digitization and documentation of its historical archives and works of art, as well as to disseminate it to the global community by making it available online.

With the assistance and collaboration of over 200 distinguished scientists and experts (Byzantinologists, theologians, historians, writers, architects, and the monks themselves), the project has produced more than 2 million digital records including documents, books, manuscripts, incunabula, journals, and artifacts (mosaics, portable icons, sculptures, textiles, religious vessels, robes, coins, and architectural designs), more than 500 hours of audiovisual content, 3D imaging of monuments, digital pilgrimages and virtual tours of monasteries, as well as educational apps that enable both scientists and the public to navigate this holy land and discover its rare cultural wealth.

Part of the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EPAnEK), the project not only constitutes a knowledge ark that includes the cultural legacy of Mt Athos Monasteries in digital form but also “a milestone project for Greece, because the technologies and methodologies used to implement the project will be adopted as best practices for all similar projects involving preservation and digitization of cultural goods” as it was stated by Konstantinos Patseas, Head of Design and Project’s Coordinator for the Holy Community of Mt Athos. Last but not least, by giving the wider public digital access to Mt Athos' unique cultural treasures, the project marks an important step of its monastic community to connect with contemporary society.

E.S.

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Can a country reverse its negative image? What methods can Public Diplomacy (PD) use to enhance a country’s image? How can positive momentum be used to sway public opinion? Has the public image of Greece changed over the past few months? The internationally renowned Professors Nicholas J. Cull (University of Southern California) and Stathis Kalyvas (University of Oxford), will be asked to address these -and many more- questions during the first online “Greek PD Talks” titled “Turning the Tide: How to reverse a negative image - The case of Greece”, on Thursday, June 18th, 2020 at 19:30 (Αthens local time).

The initiative

The “Greek PD Talks” is a forum inaugurated this year by the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy of the Greek Foreign Ministry, providing a platform for a vibrant exchange of views and best practices on Public Diplomacy affairs.

The first round of the PD Talks discussion focuses on how to better manage and promote the country’s national image, a priority of the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy, which gains an additional interest in the post-pandemic era, taking into account the positive momentum reflected in international reports on Greece.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Diaspora Greeks, Konstantinos Vlasis and Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs, Constantinos Alexandris will give welcome speeches, while Renee Maltezou, Reuters political and general news correspondent, will moderate the discussion.

The Speakers

Nicholas J. Cull is Professor of Public Diplomacy and Founding Director of the Master’s Program in Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, as well as a USC Center on Public Diplomacy (CPD) Faculty Fellow. An acknowledged pioneer in Public Diplomacy, his research, and teaching focus on the role of public engagement in foreign policy. He is a prolific writer and his most recent book is “Public Diplomacy: Foundations for Global Engagement in the Digital Age” (Polity, 2019). He has lectured widely around the world, frequently as a guest of diplomatic academies or foreign ministries and public diplomacy agencies.  

In a recent interview to Greek News Agenda, Professor Cull spoke, among others, on Greece and the need for the country to listen and understand its strengths, as well as its vulnerabilities in international opinion having though the unique advantage of people’s pre-existing emotional connection to its ancient world.

“The first thing that every initiative in PD must begin with is listening. Greece needs to listen to understand its strengths and its vulnerabilities in international opinion. We know that reputations change quickly so the government may be frustrated to find that many international ideas are out of date. This can work in your favor when outside perception is slow to pick up on failings which seem obvious to residents. The US and UK both are seen rather more favorably overseas than many at-home would expect. One of the unique advantages of Greece is the pre-existing emotional connection which people have to its places: the site of Olympus or Thermopylae. It seems as astonishing to see these on road signs as it would be to see signs for places in Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Yet Greece has often done little to take advantage of the link between the inner-mental place and the real-world location on Greek territory. (…) Greece has done more for the Gods we’ve outgrown than the mortal concepts we are still working with, and I wonder if there is a way to invite the world to share in the memorialization and further perpetuation of those ideas”.

Stathis N. Kalyvas is the Gladstone Professor of Government in the Department of Politics and International Relations and a Fellow of All Souls College, at the University of Oxford. Until 2018 he was Arnold Wolfers Professor of Political Science at Yale University, where he also directed the Program on Order, Conflict, and Violence and co-directed the Hellenic Studies Program. As an active participant in Greek public discourse, Professor Kalyvas has published, amongst other works, "Modern Greece: What Everyone Needs To Know" (2015), combining economic and political-science findings on the economic crisis with a discussion of Greece's history.

In an interview to Greek News Agenda, in 2016, Professor Kalyvas spoke, among others, on how the economic crisis informs Greek identity/ies, and how Greeks can reconstruct their self-perception in a positive perspective.

“The crisis is not a uniform process and it has affected public perceptions in Greece in a variable manner throughout the past years. I have the feeling that after a period of denial, there is at present a process of reconciliation with the hard economic reality, which is a precondition for making the necessary changes. Of course, whether these will take place is a completely different story.  If Greece succeeds, however, this will likely shape the self-perspective of Greeks in a more positive direction, stressing the (presently feeble) ability to self-correct in the face of adversity”.

To register for the first Greek PD Talks: click here

The Greek MFA's Sec-Gen for Public Diplomacy launches the first Greek #PDTalks webinar 

See also: “Public Diplomacy in Practice”: Inaugural seminar of the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy; Sec-Gen for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs Constantinos Alexandris on building the new image of Greece; The practice of Greek Public Diplomacy and its contribution to the country’s image abroad

E.S.

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Greece was a pleasant surprise at the third place of the European Design Awards 2020, an annual awards program for outstanding work in the communication design field. It is worth noting that more than 1500 participants coming from 35 different European countries submitted their work this year, competing in 44 categories covering branding, packaging, exhibition design, typography, digital design, illustration, and self-promotion, among others. Greece received 15 awards in total (three gold, seven silver, and five bronze prizes); more specifically, the winners were as follows:

Gold 2020

1. Digital, Promotional site: Antonis Kounellas by Kommigraphics Design Studio
2. Miscellaneous, Printed miscellaneous:  Jam Pedals by Beetroot Design Group
3. Digital, Motion graphics: Sky Premium Life by Beetroot Design Group

Silver 2020

1. Publication, magazine: Archisearch, The Paper Edition by Post–Spectacular Office
2. Illustration, corporate illustration: At Heroic Rhythms by G Design Studio
3. Packaging, packaging miscellaneous: Brain On Fire Matchboxes by Sputnik Design Team - Linakis Digital
4. Packaging, food & beverage packaging: Kudu Coffee by Bob Studio
5. Internal production, self-initiated projects: Marlet AntiManifesto, a typographic XXL compendium by Parachute
6. Packaging, alcoholic drink packaging: Warehouse Ten by G Design Studio
7. Illustration, corporate illustration: Yiayia And Friends by Beetroot Design Group

Bronze 2020

1. Packaging, health & beauty packaging: Aenaon by Bob Studio
2. Promotion, brochure: Parachute® Type Elections 2019 by Chris Trivizas
3. Miscellaneous, original typeface - display: PF Marlet by Parachute
4. Miscellaneous, student project: Vlemmata (gazes) by Kimon Ladonikolas
5. Packaging, food & beverage packaging: Yiayia And Friends by Beetroot Design Group

Endorsed by the International Council of Design, the European Design Awards (also known as ED-Awards) is a joint initiative of design magazines from across Europe; the jury consists of representatives from high-profile European design magazines (publishers, journalists, editors, and academics) that come together on a yearly basis, so as to gather, evaluate and acknowledge the best examples of communication design in Europe.

The European Design Awards wraps up with a festival in a different city every year, leading up to the Awards ceremony. This creates an ideal opportunity for the most creative people of this community to come together, benchmark, be inspired, celebrate, and make their work visible to a wider audience. The first festival took place in Athens, Greece in 2007, while the next one is scheduled to be hosted in Valencia, Spain in 2021. This year’s ceremony, which took place at the end of April 2020, was in full digital mode due to the lockdown that was imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

More info: visit the ED- Awards official website

E.S.

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The Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently inaugurated a series of in-service seminars, with the first, “Public Diplomacy in Practice”, taking place in Athens on February 19, 2020. The aim of the seminar was to gather officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as from other Departments of Government and public organizations, to discuss extrovert activity and familiarize with Public Diplomacy new trends and methods, so as to promote Greece to a wider international public.

The seminar was addressed by the Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs, Konstantinos Alexandris who underlined the need for Greece, following a long period of introversion, to regain foothold and promote the nation’s narrative in a systematic, coordinated and targeted way. Public diplomacy (hereafter: PD) is about understanding, informing and engaging citizens, all of which play a role in influencing public opinion in foreign countries; it is a government to people activity, thus, a significant “soft power” tool that can be used in order to promote the country abroad more effectively. Mr Alexandris also made special reference to the recent integration of the Press Counselors and Secretaries sector into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs structure, a reform capable of making a decisive contribution to promoting Greece abroad with one voice, something that was not obvious in the past years.

The seminar's program featured presentations by the following speakers:

• Zafeiris Rossides, Head of the Media Diplomacy Directorate
• Mary Vaxevanidou, Head of the International Communication Directorate of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Dimitrios Roukas, Head Physician- Psychiatrist at 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital-NIMTS

Mr Rossides’ presentation, titled “The origins of Public Diplomacy as a foreign policy tool” referred to PD as a new way of approaching foreign policy with Information acting as a “strategic equalizer” that can be transformed into a comparative advantage if managed wisely. Practically speaking, it involves the promotion of a positive image for one’s country abroad and building long-term relationships, not only through activities that address official actors, but mainly non-official ones, such as foreign citizens and non-governmental organizations, which –in combination with transparency and interactive communication– is what differentiates PD from traditional diplomacy.

Overall, PD is about communicating, on a government to people basis, a country’s ideas and ideals, its institutions and culture, as well as its national aspirations and current policies, aiming to influence attitudes or opinions of publics abroad, Mr Rossides underlined, before going on to give a brief historical background. More specifically, he noted that PD has its roots in the World War II period when the USA decided to launch an “ideological war” by creating the Office of Wartime Information (OWI) and the Voice of America with the aim to inform and have a cultural influence on a global scale. In the 1950’s, after the war was over, the staff and activities formerly carried out by OWI were transferred to the newly established agency “United States Information Agency (USIA), known overseas as the United States Information Service (USIS) aiming, among others, to diminish the influence of the Soviet Union in the Western World. For instance, examples of US PD in practice were commercial and cultural interchange programs such as the Fulbright Program. In 1999, the USIA’s staff and responsibilities were integrated into the Public Diplomacy Division of the State Department, concluded Mr Rossidis, who also referred to the case of Greek PD until the moment of its recent integration into the MFA, as well as its goals for the near future.

The floor was then given to Ms Vaxevanidou, whose presentation was titled “Public Diplomacy strategy, methodology and tools”. Ms Vaxevanidou opened her speech by analyzing the steps necessary in order to implement a strategic plan, pointing out –among others– the significance of having a mission statement, as it helps an organization define its purpose in the now and communicate it to its publics; that is why it has to be concise, clear and able to articulate what’s unique about the organization in order to build trust and rapport with an audience. Concerning strategic planning, Ms Vaxevanidou stressed the importance of situational analysis by using tools such as the SWOT analysis, which aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses internal to the organization and the opportunities and threats presented by the external environment; another tool that can be used is the PESTEL analysis, according to which each Greek Mission abroad and/or Public Diplomacy Office must conduct an external environment analysis on all levels: political (P), economic (E), social (S), technological (T), (E) environmental and (L) legal, before moving on to the next step which is to set long-term goals on what the organization intends to achieve, such as “promoting Greece as an investment place” which can then be put down to more specific and measurable objectives defining the strategies or implementation steps to attain the identified goals.  

The next step is to define the action plans for all objectives. Specifically, there are four dimensions of PD that can be formed into action plans: a) awareness (international broadcast, social media), b) appreciation (visit programs, campaigns), c) affinity (exchange programs, nation branding) and d) advocacy (collaborative programs, network initiatives). Last but not least, Ms Vaxevanidou pointed out that developing a PD Strategy is a complex and difficult task which requires deep knowledge and capabilities, as one has to deal with a foreign culture’s values that underlie behavior, which constitute the internal or subconscious part of the so-called “cultural iceberg”.

The seminar concluded with Mr Roukas’ presentation, titled “Psychological Dimensions of Public Diplomacy”, focusing on the role of psychological mechanisms and influence processes and the way they are involved in Greece’s efforts to persuade, inspire and ultimately achieve its goals through PD. Among others, he quoted Nye’s definition on PD (2005) according to which, holding a conversation with the public and achieving mutual understanding plays a pivotal role in reaching foreign policy goals.

Moreover, Mr Roukas stressed the importance of trust as it creates the context in which persuasion and influence can be used, while he also pointed out the importance of nonverbal communication for achieving messaging resonance. As far as negative message management strategies are concerned, he analyzed the processes of content and context reframing; to sum up, he referred to PD as a “battle of narratives” or a “battle for Hearts and Minds”, in which perception is reality; thus, one should not be so much preoccupied about how one will promote their activities but more about what they communicate.

See also: Sec Gen for Public Diplomacy, Religious and Consular Affairs Constantinos Alexandris on building the new image of Greece ; The practice of Greek Public Diplomacy and its contribution to the country’s image abroad

E.S.

The post “Public Diplomacy in Practice”: Inaugural seminar of the Secretariat General for Public Diplomacy appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Nicholas J. Cull is Professor of Public Diplomacy at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, where he directs the Masters Program in Public Diplomacy. His research and teaching interests are inter-disciplinary, and focus on public diplomacy and -more broadly- the role of media, culture and propaganda in international history.

He is a prolific author and his volume on the history of US public diplomacy: The Cold War and the United States Information Agency: American Propaganda and Public Diplomacy, 1945-1989 (Cambridge 2008) was named by Choice Magazine as one of the Outstanding Academic Texts of 2009. He has also published, on the same subject, the book: The Decline and Fall of the United States Information Agency: American Public Diplomacy, 1989-2001(Palgrave, New York, 2012). He has published numerous articles on the theme of propaganda and media history. His most recent book is “Public Diplomacy: Foundations for Global Engagement in the Digital Age” (Polity, 2019). He is a former editor of the journal Place Branding and Public Diplomacy; past president of the International Association for Media and History, and a current board member of the Public Diplomacy Council of Washington DC.

Last November Nicholas Cull travelled to Greece to participate in the 4th Annual Conference of the International Place Branding Association organized in Volos (November 27-29) with the collaboration of the University of Thessaly, where he spoke about nation branding and public diplomacy. The event brought together branding experts from academia, practice and policy making for a valuable discussion around the intersection of marketing, tourism, economic development, events organization, heritage management, spatial design, public diplomacy and human geography.

Professor Cull spoke to Greek News Agenda* about the relationship between image and reality in nation branding analyzing the term Reputational Security. He also put emphasis on the public dimension of diplomacy as people are nowadays central to international affairs and global politics because of technological changes, underlining at the same time the importance of evaluating digital media content. Concerning Greece’s efforts to enhance its image Cull suggests that the country needs to listen to understand its strengths and its vulnerabilities in international opinion having though the unique advantage of people’s pre-existing emotional connection to its ancient world.

In your presentation at the IPBA Conference in Volos, you talked about the role of place and nation branding in building and preserving what you have termed Reputational Security. Could you elaborate on that?

My argument is that developing and preserving a positive reputation is not a side issue for a nation state but rather it is part of the core functions and duty: protecting its people. Nations that are known and liked around the world have a palpable hedge against others intruding against their interests. A team from the University of Edinburgh recently showed that there is even a correlation between the level of a country’s international cultural activity and its ability to win votes in the UN General Assembly. Personally, I question the claim that the marketing processes associated with Nation Branding can achieve much on their own but I think that the process of considering a reputation systematically can certainly be an invaluable mechanism for directing attention to the underlying realities. The bottom line is that if you want a better image you should build a better reality, and be relevant to the audience you wish to impress.

In your opinion, why is Public Diplomacy important to nations and states and how is it related to traditional Diplomacy?

Public Diplomacy has always been practiced and appreciated by the wisest leaders. In my most recent book I am able to show examples from Greek antiquity. I identify five core practices: listening, advocacy, Cultural diplomacy, exchange and state-sponsored news which many wise rulers practiced because they understood that the feeling of people underpinned the international actions of the nation state. The difference today is that because of political and technological changes the people are now central to international affairs. All diplomacy has a public dimension and in fact the public are necessarily the final arbiters of global politics; that is why there is so much scrambling right now to capture their attention and, arguably, to keep them divided.

Yiannis Moralis: Sketch for ceramic mural for the Athens Town Hall (1985) - Source nikias.gr

Greece, having overcome a severe economic crisis, is trying to reposition and reintroduce itself to the global community as a land of creativity, innovation and sustainability, leaving behind the prevailing images of recession and austerity. In your opinion, what should Greece do or not do in order to succeed in enhancing its image?

The first thing that every initiative in public diplomacy must begin with is listening. Greece needs to listen to understand its strengths and its vulnerabilities in international opinion. We know that reputations change quickly so the government may be frustrated to find that many international ideas are out of date. This can work in your favour when outside perception is slow to pick up on failings with seem obvious to residents. The US and UK both are seen rather more favorably overseas than many at home would expect. One of the unique advantages of Greece is the pre-existing emotional connection which people have to its places: the site of Olympus or Thermopylae. It seems as astonishing to see these on road signs as it would be to see signs for places in Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. Yet Greece has often done little to take advantage of the link between the inner-mental place and the real world location on Greek territory. At the Volos conference several of the delegates, myself included, described the same experience. We came to Greece keen to see a place we knew from ancient history -- for me it was the Pnyx, another wanted to visit the site of Plato’s Academy; another places associated with Hippocrates the father of medicine -- and found nothing special there. Greece has done more for the Gods we’ve outgrown than the mortal concepts we are still working with, and I wonder if there is a way to invite the world to share in the memorialization and further perpetuation of those ideas.

In your latest book “Public Diplomacy: Foundations for Global Engagement in a Digital Age”, you explain how the advent of digital and social media has changed the landscape of cultural diplomacy. Could you provide some examples?

I wrote my book to show that even though we live in a digital world, the underlying principles of public and cultural diplomacy remain, and what worked in the past -- listening first; crafting a message with an eye to its shareability; maintaining your own credibility -- remain the core to successful public engagement. Yet there are important changes. The worst ideas in the world are no longer limited by geography. Extremists are able to connect with each other. The most disruptive ideas -- such as xenophobia, emphasis on one’s own victimhood; cynicism about allies and events -- circulate with little restraint among people still ill-equipped to evaluate them. I feel we have a vested interest in helping audiences to evaluate the media of our age; in empowering the voices working to make the world a better place and working together to build a context in which trust can develop. I would like to see less emphasis on the digital as a mechanism of broadcasting and more on it as a forum for mutual engagement and collaboration. We have only just begun to see its potential for such work.

* Interview by Ioulia Elmatzoglou 

The post Nicholas J. Cull, Professor of Public Diplomacy at the USC, speaks to GNA about nation branding and cultural diplomacy appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

An international student shares his love of for the city of Thessaloniki with readers from around the world: Kushal S Mehta from Jaisalmer, India, has founded the magazine SIGMag, and dedicated its inaugural issue to Thessaloniki, a place with many attractions that he thinks doesn’t get all the attention it deserves.

SIGMag is described as a biannual digital free press publication promoting “lesser known second tier cities which are full of inspirations, initiatives, liveliness, creativity and diversity”. Thessaloniki is particularly worthy of such a description since, according to Kushal, it is a "beautiful and vibrant city with a relaxed pace of life and people who are always eager to help others".

The 26-year-old has come to know the city since he moved there 2 years ago to do an MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management at the International Hellenic University. He loved living there but, as he said in his interview with ANA-MPA, he found out that most foreigners ignore its existence, and are only familiar with Athens and some islands like Mykonos and Santorini.

With the help of friends and volunteers from Greece, India and other countries, Kushal decided to start a publication that would help readers discover cities of great importance but lesser international fame, such as Thessaloniki. As he says, he hopes people introduced to the unique merits of the city will be inspired to visit it. Among it positive features he cites the great cuisine and its relatively small size which makes it easier for visitors to move around by foot, getting to know the place.

In the introduction of this Thessaloniki Special, writers point out their interest in people and organisations of the city which “kept the creative spark ignited” at a difficult time for Greece, shaping identities and communities in this place “full of beauty, chaos, history, culture, youth, energy, cuisine, diversity”.

Its contents include interviews with founders of nonprofit organizations, publishers of free-press magazines, architects, poets and art curators. “Tucked between relics of Byzantine and Ottoman antiquity are art galleries, bohemian nightclubs, and culinary hot spots, all part of a grassroots vision turned reality by Thessaloniki’s large do-it-yourself youth culture.”

Kushal S Meta aspires to build a "bridge between Greece and Asia", and is now preparing the second issue of his magazine, inviting those who wish to contribute, either as volunteers or through crowdfunding. The team has also started another project called “1000 reasons to Love Thessaloniki”. In it they aim to collect 1000 video testimonials of people and personalities stating their top three reasons why they love Thessaloniki.

Read also via Greek News Agenda: Study in Greece: International Hellenic University celebrates ten years; Study in Greece: International Hellenic University offers 20 Postgraduate Programmes in English; Study in Greece: International Master's Programmes taught in English ; Thomas Korovinis: “My Thessaloniki”

N.M.

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