Cyprus-Forum.com

[reportfromcyprus]

We mustn't confuse the role of the media with public watchdog or lobbyist.

A publication shouldn't be used purely as an instrument of pressure on a government, only the people and their votes can really do that.

If a publication takes on a government opposition stance, then they are expressing an editorial position, but not necessarily being used as a political instrument by outside governments. There's a big difference between the two.

In the final analysis, do you really think that an English-language daily can truly influence the majority of voters in Cyprus? Or inflict huge damage? I'm not so sure.

[Kifeas]

We mustn't confuse the role of the media with public watchdog or lobbyist.

A publication shouldn't be used purely as an instrument of pressure on a government, only the people and their votes can really do that.

If a publication takes on a government opposition stance, then they are expressing an editorial position, but not necessarily being used as a political instrument by outside governments. There's a big difference between the two.

In the final analysis, do you really think that an English-language daily can truly influence the majority of voters in Cyprus? Or inflict huge damage? I'm not so sure.

If their real objective was to simply keep the G/C public informed of a different perspective in relation to the Cyprus problem, within the concept and rights of freedom of expression and so that the G/C public would form a better opinion on how “bad” for example their government is and therefore to put pressure on it or do not vote for them in the next elections, they should have done it though a Greek language newspaper which the people can read easily. However, their targeted audience is not the bulk of the G/C public, which has the ability to vote down its government one day, but instead the foreign diplomats, governments and international public which anyway doesn’t have the power to vote against the government of the RoC.

I do not say they should take a pro-government stance. I say they should become more objective, more balance and more truthful, especially if and since they are the only source of daily information that the international community has in English from a Cypriot newspaper.

I said many times that if such an English language newspaper existed in many other countries, like Turkey for example, which would carry such an anti-Turkish establishment propaganda towards the rest of the world, it's premises would have been demolished within a week and its journalists would have been on the missing persons list. With this I do not want to imply that such an act is permissible, or that this should be the fait of the people of Cyprus mail, because such an act would have been illegal and immoral. However, this by itself proves how democratic and liberal the RoC is, to allow a G/C newspaper to carry such an anti government propaganda from within the country towards the international community, while at the same time to spend millions of pounds every year for the purpose of informing the same foreign public of its own positions, and while also at the same time Turkey is spending billions of pounds for the same purpose. Can you imagine if Turkish Daily News or Zaman would do something like this, i.e. to constantly scoff, ridicule and belittle the government of their own country towards the entire English speaking world readers?

[cypezokyli]

i think i am getting a de ja vu.
tpaps words are being repeated word by word!!

[Kifeas]

i think i am getting a de ja vu.
tpaps words are being repeated word by word!!

Then he is probably reading my posts in the forums!

[reportfromcyprus]

I agree with you that publications should report fairly and truthfully, and that relying on one source of news can be a narrowing experience

As for the external perception of the Cyprus government - it is internationally recognised as the official government of the country.

There's no single publication that can change this, surely? Not without seriously impacting their own integrity as a news source. I can understand your skepticism, and I would temper it with the point that the government's actions and policies are their responsibility.

It's their responsibility to maintain good relations with other countries, keep the country's good reputation and represent the population to the best of their abilities. The people decide whether they have done this or not, not the newspapers.

[theresa]

Hi there! Here in the North we have the Cyprus Times, printed every day (including Sundays). They don't seem to have a website though. The Chairman, Dr Doğan Harman writes a column called "cross fire" every day and he pulls no punches, he openly critisises the goverments (here and in the South) over various issues.
Regards
Tess

[cypezokyli]

We mustn't confuse the role of the media with public watchdog or lobbyist.

A publication shouldn't be used purely as an instrument of pressure on a government, only the people and their votes can really do that.

If a publication takes on a government opposition stance, then they are expressing an editorial position, but not necessarily being used as a political instrument by outside governments. There's a big difference between the two.

In the final analysis, do you really think that an English-language daily can truly influence the majority of voters in Cyprus? Or inflict huge damage? I'm not so sure.

If their real objective was to simply keep the G/C public informed of a different perspective in relation to the Cyprus problem, within the concept and rights of freedom of expression and so that the G/C public would form a better opinion on how “bad” for example their government is and therefore to put pressure on it or do not vote for them in the next elections, they should have done it though a Greek language newspaper which the people can read easily. However, their targeted audience is not the bulk of the G/C public, which has the ability to vote down its government one day, but instead the foreign diplomats, governments and international public which anyway doesn’t have the power to vote against the government of the RoC.

I do not say they should take a pro-government stance. I say they should become more objective, more balance and more truthful, especially if and since they are the only source of daily information that the international community has in English from a Cypriot newspaper.

I said many times that if such an English language newspaper existed in many other countries, like Turkey for example, which would carry such an anti-Turkish establishment propaganda towards the rest of the world, it's premises would have been demolished within a week and its journalists would have been on the missing persons list. With this I do not want to imply that such an act is permissible, or that this should be the fait of the people of Cyprus mail, because such an act would have been illegal and immoral. However, this by itself proves how democratic and liberal the RoC is, to allow a G/C newspaper to carry such an anti government propaganda from within the country towards the international community, while at the same time to spend millions of pounds every year for the purpose of informing the same foreign public of its own positions, and while also at the same time Turkey is spending billions of pounds for the same purpose. Can you imagine if Turkish Daily News or Zaman would do something like this, i.e. to constantly scoff, ridicule and belittle the government of their own country towards the entire English speaking world readers?

so democracy and freedom mean simply that the goverment allows us to live when we express a different opinion ? !!!
McCarthy also allowed his oponents to live : is that also democracy and freedom ?
if thats the point your democraca and freedom reaches then we obviously have a problem of definition.

makarios drousiotis report is in the internet . the film is there for everyone to see for free, and to read the report either in greek or in english. as far as i can recall kifeas you never made any comment on that research. not even of the kind : well perhaps that was a mistake. but we both know that it wasnt. thats why you dont say it
if i recall correctly only piratis challanged (as usual) the credibility of the researcher and not of the research it self - bc as we again know , you cannot challange facts - especially facts that dont suit you.
watch the video , and then tell me if that falls in your definition of democracy and freedom. if it does then we should redefine those words.


could you tell me which is the "objective" newspaper in cyprus ? or which is the objective tv station or radio station ? as far as i am concrened there are no objective media in cyprus. they are either progoverment or antigoverment. as such is the cyprus mail classified. its against the goverment period. all the rest about foreign interest is just goverment propaganda.

as for becoming more "truthfull"... anyway...
.......

as for the "obrjectivity" of journalism i will write sth later on.

[Bananiot]

Remember that anti americanism is socialism of the fools and perhaps this will cure all your ailments, real and imaginary. The Greek nation at large has been greatly benefited by the Brits and the Americans, but fools never learn.

[Kifeas]

so democracy and freedom mean simply that the goverment allows us to live when we express a different opinion ? !!!

Are you asking me? Is this something I said anywhere in my posts? Where did I say that democracy and freedom is only all about the government allowing us to live when we express a different opinion?

McCarthy also allowed his oponents to live : is that also democracy and freedom ?
if thats the point your democraca and freedom reaches then we obviously have a problem of definition.

Again, are you indirectly putting words in mouth?

makarios drousiotis report is in the internet . the film is there for everyone to see for free, and to read the report either in greek or in english. as far as i can recall kifeas you never made any comment on that research. not even of the kind : well perhaps that was a mistake. but we both know that it wasnt. thats why you dont say it
if i recall correctly only piratis challanged (as usual) the credibility of the researcher and not of the research it self - bc as we again know , you cannot challange facts - especially facts that dont suit you.
watch the video , and then tell me if that falls in your definition of democracy and freedom. if it does then we should redefine those words.

I saw Drousitis DVD and I was even present in a presentation by him in Pafos on this subject. Are you criticising me for not posting on a subject that I do not even recall if and when it made its appearance on the forum, or are you telling me that I do not know the definition of democracy and freedom of expression and /or press? Did I say that CM should not have the right to function and carry on its anti-G/C cause propaganda? I only said that what it does, namely to constantly defame, slander, distort, scoff and ridicule the elected president and the official positions of the elected leadership on such a crucial national issue like the Cyprus problem, especially when this is not directed towards the G/C readers but rather towards all the foreign governments and the international community, is not morally correct and at least dubious as to its motives and purposes. Do I not have the right to say that? Do I not have the right to criticise the CM for what is doing? Only the CM has the right to unfairly criticise the government and the president?

could you tell me which is the "objective" newspaper in cyprus ? or which is the objective tv station or radio station ? as far as i am concrened there are no objective media in cyprus. they are either progoverment or antigoverment. as such is the cyprus mail classified. its against the goverment period. all the rest about foreign interest is just goverment propaganda.

as for becoming more "truthfull"... anyway...
.......

as for the "obrjectivity" of journalism i will write sth later on.

Is this our subject today? The overall objectivity of the G/C media? At least the others do what they do internally, and they are exposed to the judgement of the G/C public. The Cyprus Mail on the other hand, moves in an area in which it has a monopoly (the only English language daily Cypriot newspaper,) and it is abusing this monopoly in front of an audience that has much less ability to judge its objectivity, simply because it is the only source of daily information they have about Cyprus in the language they can understand.

[Kifeas]

Remember that anti americanism is socialism of the fools and perhaps this will cure all your ailments, real and imaginary. The Greek nation at large has been greatly benefited by the Brits and the Americans, but fools never learn.

Any more slogans bananiot?