A timely discussion with distinguished guests on the practice and politics of writing and books in today’s era of visual culture, social media and the internet is organized, in collaboration with the National Library of Greece (NLG), by the Postgraduate Program “Creative Writing, Theater and Cultural Industries” of the University of the Peloponnese, on Friday, January 16, 2026, 4:00 PM-6:30 PM, at the Book Tower of the National Library of Greece (SNFCC).

Some of the questions that a group of experts will pose and attempt to explore in this lively discussion about books, writing, and cultural policy are as follows:

– How is writing changing as a practice and as a value in the age of new media?

– What is the place of books, literary critics, authors, writers, and readers today, in an ever-changing cultural landscape of images, speed, and electronic media?

– What are the contemporary policies and prospects for promoting writing and reading today, and what are the synergies between institutions?

– What is the place of books, literature, and translation in the design of a national cultural policy in an international landscape?

Participants in the discussion include:

Christos Asterios, author, Artistic Director of the Athens Literature Festival

Nikos Bakounakis, Professor of Journalism at Panteion University, President of the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Greek Culture (ELIVIP)

Kostas Katsoularis, author, President of the Hellenic Authors’ Society

Manolis Pimblis, journalist, Director of the Chania Book Festival

Katerina Schina, translator, critic

Moderated by Angeliki Spyropoulou, Professor at the University of the Peloponnese, Director of the Master’s Program in Creative Writing, Theater, and Cultural Industries.