Greek Media Discourse from Reconstitution of Democracy to Memorandums of Understanding

In Greek Media Discourse from Reconstitution of Democracy to Memorandums of Understanding, Nikoletta Tsitsanoudis-Mallidis examines the changes in the form and symbolism of the language utilized by the media in Greece since the fall of the dictatorship in 1974. She reveals linguistic reflections of important economic and political changes in the country. Tsitsanoudis-Mallidis argues that the language adopted a more grassroots approach because it served the climate of the restoration of democracy, embodying progressive implications by distancing itself from more formal approaches. This facilitated political alliances and heightened popular expectations.

The Greek language took a more populist turn when private media sought opportunities within the lower and lower-middle classes. Language both influenced and was influenced by an embrace of politics through the "authority" it had gained via television and publishing. It also lost and regained the role of representing the campaigns of the common people. In the era of memoranda, it became a sharp tool of manipulation, aiming at the coercive acceptance of harsh economic measures.

Finally, Tsitsanoudis-Mallidis demonstrates how language provokes critical debate, raising questions about how ultimately democratic are the forces that shape discourse with such a "biased" projection as journalism. This leaves unanswered the final question: How pedagogical can public discourse be when it loses its democracy as a social good?