Mediating a Greek Success Story?

On 17 May 2013 the German tabloid newspaper Bild portrayed on its front page Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras as a successful politician who has managed to save the country from chaotic default and an exit from the eurosystem. This constitutes a symbolic example of the improvement of Greece’s international coverage in recent months. Similar cases can also be found in the media discourse. The Wall Street Journal, for instance, concentrated on Mr Samaras’ attempt to stabilise the national economy and cool political tempers. For its part, Die Welt praised the Greek Prime Minister for his courage and spirit in times of recession. Existing problems such as the rise of the neo-fascist Golden Dawn party and the impact of unemployment on young people partly attract the attention of foreign journalists. But their general stance vis-à-vis the country seems to have entered a new era.