Greece has been hit by news blackout as the country's journalists go out on strike to protest new austerity measures.

The 24-hour walkout means there will be no radio or TV news programs on Wednesday, while newspapers will not be printed on Thursday.

The media blackout comes ahead of a general strike on Thursday which is also aimed at protesting against the measures.

Passenger ferries will not be running on Thursday after the Panhellenic Seamen’s Union (PNO) decided to join the general strike organized by public and private sector unions.

The PNO is demanding that ferry companies sign a new collective contract with their employees.

Public transport will also be disrupted on Thursday. Trolley buses in Athens will not be in circulation at all, while the metro and the Kifissia-Piraeus electric railway (ISAP) will not be running before 9 a.m. Buses will be in operation between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Taxi drivers will walk off the job between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Flights will also be disrupted as air-traffic controllers will hold a work stoppage from 10 a.m. to 1.p.m. In an unusual step, kiosk owners have also decided to join Thursday’s strike.