On the occasion of today's World Press Day and at a time when technology has given a new impetus to the media, a high sense of responsibility is required to protect impartiality and defend the truth.
Fake news is a phenomenon that misleads society, manipulates public opinion and undermines democracy.
Freedom of the press is a fundamental value for the European Union, of which Cyprus is an integral part. Pluralism, freedom of thought and expression and above all the citizen's right to correct and responsible information are not negotiable.
The Government, as President Nicos Anastasiades has stated many times, will continue to support journalism in a way that allows journalists to carry out their duties without restrictions and interference.
The main objective of supporting the media is to support and preserve pluralism, especially of traditional media, to protect pluralism of opinion, freedom of expression, democracy and citizens' right to information, as well as to ensure the quality of information.
Accurate journalism, the search for the truth, the observance of ethics and the application of objectivity are the cornerstone of modern democratic states.
In our country, the press exercises its duties without any restriction or interference. It is necessary to work collectively so that what is self-evident for us and in other democratic states becomes a non-negotiable fact for the entire journalistic community around the world.
Respect for the important work carried out by members of the press is a given. Without the media there is no democracy.
(PM/MG/EHR)
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