Negative influence of TV on politics
Have our political parties ever pondered the negative influence exercised by television on their cohesion, unity and image? The question is a timely one in view of New Democracy’s recent navel-gazing following reports of Pakistanis allegedly being beaten and interrogated in Greece and the Russian fugitive criminal who shot two policemen during a prison transfer. It is clear that our political parties have not really thought about this. But they have shown great interest in pushing their individual politicians into TV debates, instructing cadres on how to dress and speaking in a way that will appeal to the cameras. But these same parties have not achieved the same mastery of their collective image on TV; and this is because a politician who is prepared to speak out against his party is deemed to be more interesting by TV bosses. One cannot deny the presence of interests in private media firms that oppose certain parties. But one should not underestimate the damage being wreaked upon parties by cadres more interested in self-promotion than party unity. So perhaps it would be best for Public Order Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis to consider which media firms would host a group of ND cadres able to confirm that he is not responsible for the ordeal of the Pakistanis, nor the tragedy with the Russian fugitive. But most private channels would not give air time to such figures defending their minister because it makes for «boring TV.»
