“Freedom of Press in Cyprus” discussed at CIU
President of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Association Dr. Emin Akkor was the invited speaker at the event “Freedom of Press in Cyprus” organized by Cyprus and Mediterranean Studies Center (CYPMED) of Cyprus International University (CIU).
Akkor briefly summarized the freedom of the press from a historical perspective starting with the first newspaper published in the country to the present day, and gave information about the Turkish Cypriot Press, especially by giving examples about the current situation.
Dr. Akkor pointed out THAT with the draft law attempted to be implemented in 2022, the freedom of expression of the society has been tried to be restricted. He also talked about the projects they started as the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Association to protect and expand the freedom of expression in the country.
Akkor explained how those new media technologies provide faster access to information but that these applications bring along with them disadvantages as well as advantages, and underlined that today, in terms of freedom of communication, indymedia which is an open publishing network of activist journalists has a front page designed for the social media.
Akkor noted that "some of these indymedia web publications that are unknown and without any address, present unreal and insulting information as news on social media.” Akkor also added this clearly shows the extent of the danger.
In his speech, Akkor also drew attention to the importance of media literacy and said that as the Journalists' Association, they have projects to boost media literacy.
Emphasizing the development of media literacy with a critical point of view throughout society, Akkor pointed out the importance of differentiating publications that were launched for the purpose of journalism from publications published for personal ambitions and interests.
The event ended by CYPMED Board Member Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Erçakıca's presentation of a plaque of appreciation to Dr. Emin Akkor.