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Abstract

While there is a history of co-operative enterprise in Greece, this has been largely limited to “traditionalâ€� (agricultural) kinds of co-operatives. Until recently there was no co-operative activity in the field of media and more generally the press business. The economic crisis of 2010 created opportunities to develop new modes of entrepreneurial activity in the co-operative sector. In this context, and following the collapse of Eleftherotypia, a national daily newspaper, Efimerida ton Syntakton — the Journalists’ Newspaper — a leftist progressive paper, was established in Greece in 2012, saving the jobs of the co-operative’s members. Indirectly owned by its employees, the Journalists’ Newspaper is an important example of co-operative journalism in Greece. It has proved to be a successful experiment surviving within a turbulent environment. It claims to support quality journalism, is presently financially viable, and intends to continue as a co-operative. This article draws on secondary data which is further informed by structured and semi-structured interviews with a key member of the co-operative to describe their experience of the creation and development of the newspaper. 

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