It was only to be expected that the local television networks would relegate the complexity of Greek-Turkish relations to their usual poor-quality standards. That’s the way the Greek media have handled most of the national issues and that’s the way they handled the visit of Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan to Thrace.

The problem is that their simplistic interpretation of reality creates the political conditions for the country’s diplomatic isolation. The endless sensationalism gives the wrong impressions, which generate political pressure and in turn give birth to political events.

The media stereotypes are damaging the country. It’s bad and boring journalism. It’s bad because the media only give a part of the story. And it’s boring because the viewing public is tired of listening to an endless stream of provocation-against-Greece sound bites.

Most importantly however, this type of journalism is harmful to national interests.