Cyprus: a divided public

Ever since the invasion of the northern part of Cyprus by the Turkish military in 1974, the island's media landscape, like the island itself, has been split in two. In recent years, cooperation between the media and journalists on both sides has gradually increased. First the financial crisis, then the pandemic and the energy crisis have dealt major blows to the newspaper market.

The border between the Republic of Cyprus and the part of the island under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. (© picture alliance / Bildagentur-online/Joko)

In the Republic of Cyprus in the southern part of the island, press freedom has for the most part been respected in recent years. Since news channel Al Jazeera revealed in 2020 that Cypriot officials and politicians had actively supported dubious individuals in applying for "golden passports" in exchange for investments, the Cypriot media's investigations have placed a stronger focus on the issue of corruption.

More recently, however, threats, censorship and legal proceedings against journalists have also become a problem. Investigative journalist Makarios Drousiotis reported that after researching corruption and shady Russian business dealings in the circle of long-serving President Nikos Anastasiades, his mobile phone and computer were hacked using surveillance software. Drousiotis has also accused the authorities of wiretapping and spying on other people, including diplomats, on behalf of powerful Russians. Anastasiades denies the allegations. Drousiotis was threatened with legal action and slandered in the media.

Self-censorship among journalists has also increased in Cyprus in recent years. According to observers, certain topics are now taboo because journalists are afraid of being targeted by a corrupt network of international companies that have a strong presence on the island. Journalists in the Turkish-occupied north of the island must reckon with reprisals, arrests and even physical attacks if they publish critical reports. In January 2018, for example, nationalists attacked the offices of the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Afrika, which had published an article criticising the Turkish military operation in the Syrian town of Afrin. Turkey's President Erdoğan had mentioned the article in a speech and called on his "Northern Cypriot brothers and sisters" to "respond". In addition, the restrictive measures against the spread of Covid-19 also had negative repercussions for the media: drastic restrictions were introduced for press conferences, which some journalists criticised as an encroachment on press freedom. Even after the protective measures were lifted some of the restrictions remained in place.

Media as bridge-builders
Over the years, Cypriot media have avidly followed the futile negotiations aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus conflict. In recent years, a greater degree of pluralism can be observed in the media debate. Collaboration between media outlets and journalists on both sides has also intensified in the last few years thanks to a number of joint projects. In the summer of 2018, for example, with the support of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) journalists from both sides published a common glossary aimed at avoiding the use of sensitive terms and potentially inflammatory comments.

The newspaper market in the Greek-Cypriot south of the island is dominated by six titles published in Greek and one English-language newspaper. Political parties and the Orthodox Church wield considerable influence in the media sector. The Church is a stakeholder in TV channel Omega, while the daily newspaper Haravgi and radio station Astra have close ties with the Communist Party. In the Turkish-occupied north of the island, the number of daily newspapers dropped from 19 in 2020 to 8 in 2023 as a result of the economic crisis and the pandemic. Several newspapers have strong links to Turkish Cypriot parties.

Newspaper sales plunged as a result of the financial crisis. Many journalists' salaries were cut while others were made redundant. The Covid-19 crisis and the energy crisis exacerbated the situation: newspaper sales plummeted once more and advertising revenues collapsed. In April 2020, the cabinet of the Republic of Cyprus approved 700,000 euros in state aid for the media. Digital media – in particular news websites and alternative online sources as well as social media such as Facebook and X – have gained importance as primary news sources in recent years. According to a study conducted by the Cyprus Editors' Union in 2022, to stay up-to-date on topics that interest them 74 percent of Cypriots watch television, 68 percent use social media, 46 percent listen to the radio, 44 percent visit websites and only 11 percent read newspapers.

Broadcasting in Cyprus was under British influence until well into the 1950s. Today, the Republic of Cyprus has a state broadcaster which operates two channels and there are eight private television channels. Audiences prefer the private channels because they broadcast Greek entertainment programmes and series. In the occupied north, people tend to watch Turkish television. There is also a Turkish-Cypriot channel and seven private channels, as well as Internet TV and radio.

World Press Freedom Index (Reporters Without Borders):
Republic of Cyprus: Rank 55 (2023)
Northern Cyprus: Rank 76 (2023)

Last updated: September 2023

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