There is no uniform approach by the Greek media regarding the issue of misinformation. One could say that the most common approach is an effort to simply translate the values of journalism to the new era, with an extra layer of caution when information originates from social media. Starting with the public service broadcaster ERT, the interviewee described a combination of a fact-checking department with the traditional practice of information cross-checking:
ERT of course has its own fact-checking department. The staff of ERT has experience and it is hard for misinformation to happen, whether it is guided or not. It is a matter of experience. To a large degree, what we call fact-checking often happens through traditional cross-checking that we always did.
In most cases, Greek journalists use their experience and employ extra caution with social media information in order to deal with misinformation, as one of the editors-in-chief mentioned:
We are dealing with the fake news phenomenon because most associates, freelancers, and colleagues, have experience. We do not broadcast if we do not cross-reference. We won’t rush to be first if we are not certain that this piece of news exists. And because with social media things have become too quick, the orders that we have is that we need to be very careful.
This process of careful cross-checking is the go-to practice of Greek journalists in order to deal with misinformation. Meanwhile, people working for alternative media outlets have a very different perspective regarding fake news and misinformation:
Ever since the advent of journalism, misinformation has always existed. So, we follow the basic principles of the code of conduct. We make sure to double-check a piece of news, and carefully choose our sources, etc. We haven’t made any changes because fake news is in fashion.
Most organisations do not have fact-checking departments. Moreover, there is also no official collaboration with external fact-checking organisations. The only fact-checking organisation that is mentioned is Greek Hoaxes. It is an unofficial organisation that has taken up that role on the Greek Internet. One of the editors-in-chief described how their website collaborated in some cases with Greek Hoaxes:
There are “hoaxes” that surveys all of us in any case. We work with them and when there is something, they call us out and we either fix it, or we give an explanation on what is going on. I think that is the process we follow.
Another journalist also mentioned Greek Hoaxes, but as a source to be advised from rather than as a stable relationship: “The burden rests upon ‘Hoaxes’ here in Greece. It is a credible source in my opinion, rather than a partnership”.
By and large, it can be argued that misinformation and fake news are slowly pushing Greek media companies to consider new technologies and ways of addressing these issues. However, the process is still in its infant stages.
