Nikos K.Megrelis

Name: Nikos K. Megrelis

Date of Birth: 30th May, 1957

Place of Birth: Genoa - Italy

Nationality: Hellenic

Education: BSc in Statistics, University of Piraeus.

Languages: English and Italian.

Professional Experience: Being a professional journalist, since February of 1980 started his career in the major Greek newspapers "To Vima" & "Ta NEA". Editor in chief, diplomatic and political editor-analyst at the private T.V. channels "Mega" and "Antenna". Editorial associate of the leading English review "Odyssey" (1999-2004). During the years 2001-2004 was the producer and anchor of the weekly news program "50 Minutes" at the Greek Public Television "NET" where he continues to work. Pioneer among the Greek journalists regarding the improvement of Greek - Turkish relations, his interview after the Imia crisis in 1996 with President of Turkey Suleiman Demirel, turned to be a point of reference for the relations between the two countries.

Professional Skills: Specified in issues of foreign politics and international affairs, has a long experience on the issues of the European Union. He has also lectured (2002 &2003) in the post-graduate Mass Media and Communication Department of the Athens University. In 2006 he published two books: "A Greek century in Cairo 1904-2004," (Greek and Arabic edition) and "Thoughts within 300 words". He has made speeches in numerous conferences in Greece and abroad, about issues of journalism and foreign politics.

Awards: In 2002, he received the most prestigious Greek award that of the Botsis Foundation, "for the quality of his T.V. programs". He has been also awarded with the European prize "Eurocomenius 2003", for his program on the Prestige wreckage and the environmental disaster at the coastlines of Spain. In 2007, he received the "K. KALLIGAS" award from European Journalists Association - Greek section being honoured "for his professional ethics and European orientation in journalism."

Social Activities: In May 2004 was elected member of International Federation of Journalists' Executive Committee (IFJ) that represents more than 500.000 journalists in more than 100 countries. He was re-elected at the Moscow Congress in 2007. During the years 2003-2005 was General Secretary of the Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN). During the period 1999-2005 he was elected to JUADN's Executive Board. He was also a member (Alternate Secretary) of the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists' Union's Executive Board, in 1997-1998. He contributed to the IFJ campaign at the U.N. Security Council in order to approve the resolution (24th December 2006.) for the protection of journalists in conflict zones. Since 2006 is elected as a member of the Contact Group of Greek and Turkish journalists. He is a founding member of the Greek-Chilean Cultural Chamber and also, of the Greek-Georgian Friendship Association.