The dangers of misinformation and the challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) were discussed, among other topics, at the Regular Meeting of European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), held in Athens and hosted by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA).

“In recent years, one of the most serious threats to quality journalism has been the tsunami of fake news, misinformation, and algorithmically enhanced echo chambers. False narratives and fake videos (deepfakes), rumors, conspiracy theories, all undermine public trust, polarize societies, and erode the foundations of democratic discourse,” said Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis.

“News agencies remain the guardians of real news and continue to bear the responsibility of truth,” said ANA-MPA President Aimilios Perdikaris.

According to Marinakis, the responses to these new challenges must be as follows: First, “strengthening independent and impartial journalism, transparency of sources, and accountability.” As the spokesperson emphasized, “The credibility of a news agency lies in its integrity, in its refusal to flatter, distort, or simplify complicated truths over clicks or convenience.”

Regarding AI, he pointed out that “we must adopt tools that help with verification, support fact-checking, and help detect artificial content, while ensuring at the same time that we maintain human critical thinking, editorial oversight, and the ethical parameters that an algorithm alone cannot support.”
Furthermore, cross-border cooperation is essential, Marinakis stressed, as misinformation in one place spreads to neighboring countries. “The strength of EANA lies precisely in pooling its resources, exchanging best practices, and coordinating responses,” he added.

To combat misinformation, the government spokesperson reported that “the Greek government has repealed simple defamation laws, providing stronger protection for journalists,” strengthening “penalties for inciting violence against journalists under legislation aimed at combating fan violence,” and created “print and online press registers to ensure transparency of media ownership, fair distribution of state aid, and support for journalism and the creation of jobs.” A working group has been set up, “a platform for journalists to express their concerns and shape policies that protect their rights,” and finally, the International Training Center for the Safety of Journalists was established, of which ANA-MPA is a founding member and an active participant.

In conclusion, Marinakis stressed, “We will protect freedom of the press, strengthen mass media pluralism, and ensure a legislative framework that protects journalistic work.”

Perdikaris: Credibility a guiding value

For his part, President of ANA-MPA Perdikaris referred to news agencies, stressing that “in the face of new and growing challenges, and in order to survive and maintain our historic role in the media landscape, we must adapt and re-examine many aspects of our work.”

“Artificial intelligence, fact-checking, digital content, social media, and field reporting are, among other things, part of this demanding landscape,” noted ANA-MPA’s president. To address these challenges, “one value must guide us above all else: credibility. This is what sets us apart and will continue to differentiate us from other media outlets,” he stressed.

The Athens-Macedonian News Agency has established itself “as an important regional agency and a reliable partner for EANA,” Perdikaris noted. It also plays “a substantial and independent role in the Greek media landscape, despite unfair criticism that, as a public agency, we are vulnerable to political pressure.”

Public news agencies must stand alongside private news agencies, he also argued.

“Cooperation is the key to responding to the challenges of our time, and EANA is the best forum for doing so,” Perdikaris said, concluding his remarks.

“Ten to fifteen years ago, Greece was struggling to emerge from the economic crisis. It managed to recover. Now France is facing similar problems,” said Fabrice Fries, president of EANA and CEO of Agence France-Presse (AFP), in his welcoming speech.

EANA was founded in 1956. It has 32 member agencies representing a total audience of approximately 750 million people.

The conference will continue on Friday with the election of a new EANA board of directors, for which Perdikaris will be a candidate following a proposal by 24 member agencies.