Monitoring capabilities over risks and opportunities for media-related deliberative communication in Greece in the twenty-first century

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the information and knowledge available for diagnosing the potential for mediated deliberative communication in Greece. The article reviews existing structures, research and data sources and assesses their capacity to support the monitoring of media developments and the risks and opportunities deriving from the latter for deliberative communication. It explores the main features of the research and data collection activities carried out in four areas considered to exert an influence on the media’s contribution to deliberative communication: media law and ethics, journalism, media usage and media users’ competences. The research shows that considerable differences exist across the four areas reviewed regarding the availability and comprehensiveness of the research conducted and data. This impacts on capacities for monitoring and evaluating with equal rigour risks and opportunities regarding deliberative communication across the four areas examined. The research underlines the need for more institutionalized and adequately funded domestic research structures for boosting oversight capacity. It also points to the need to systematize and diversify data collection processes as well as to improve the accessibility of the available research data and findings.