CyBC tell their critics not to question their objectivity

REPORTERS from the state-run Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) yesterday condemned attacks that they are receiving from politicians and the media over their coverage of the coming presidential elections.

After a meeting yesterday, the CyBC reporters issued an announcement in which they expressed their sadness over efforts from some politicians to influence their journalistic duties with accusations of bias in their reporting.

While not actually defending themselves from the accusations of pro-government bias, the journalists seemed to be taking exception to being brought to task on the point.

The reporters said mudslinging against some state journalists cannot be seen as anything other than an attempt to terrorise them for political or personal gain.

“It is not right for people to intervene during a show focusing on the presidential elections and begin attacking journalists,” said CyBC Chairman Makis Keravnos yesterday.

A CyBC Senior Manager added, “I call on the political parties and presidential candidates to leave CyBC alone to do its job.

“Many elections have come and gone and it is my belief that we have always done our job properly.”

CyBC chief news editor Yiannis Kareklas said 40 of the station’s reporters, who yesterday signed a petition, will not become a tool of propaganda.

“The personnel of CyBC utterly condemn any efforts to scare reporters carrying out their duties. We will not become the tool of any political propaganda. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we are faultless.

“Mistakes have happened and will happen especially from people who work under pressure and with limited time. But we still expect criticism to be based on the truth and not on political propaganda.”
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The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.