Synthia Pavlou
The Data
As before, the five national free-to-air television channels are studied in this part of the paper. The data from RIK, Mega, ANT1, Sigma and Plus TV were drawn from their main evening news bulletins of 30 June to 3 July 2008.
The main news story and what it will reveal
The 1 July 2008 meeting between President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and their subsequent joint statement were widely covered by the stations. The television coverage of this story as well as other issues provided the material for our analysis, which aimed to clarify:
a) The stances of each TV channel regarding the solution sought, the government / the parties, the European Union and the ʻother sideʼ;
b) The means employed to put forward these positions.
Media Practices
The television stations, by and large, used the same methods as in the previous period of analysis, both to inform their audiences as objectively as possible and to remain competitive. Additionally, their resources and party or ideological links and affiliations continued to affect the way some stations represented certain news items.
Different Discourses and Media Practices The Form of Solution
The leadersʼ meeting is used as a reference point to reveal the stationsʼ ideologies related to the settlement of the Cyprus Problem. A stationʼs coverage of this event reveals whether it promoted the official government position, or instead projected its own stance; more importantly, it shows if the station still hoped that the deadlock in the country would end. The stationsʼ positions regarding the settlement are outlined in relation to their positions in the previous period of study and in comparison to their coverage of the Papadopoulos—Talat meeting on 5 September 2007.
The main similarity in the stationsʼ coverage of the meetings of Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr.
Christofias with Mehmet Ali Talat was that all stations appeared to have adopted the official stance on the parameters of the desired solution. During the meeting between Christofias and Talat, the President of the Republic of Cyprus sought agreement on the issue of single sovereignty and citizenship. This seems to have also been the position adopted by the stations and was viewed by the Greek Cypriots as the basis for negotiations.
ANT1 reported that the matter of ʻthe basis of the negotiations is, at least in principle, closedʼ.1 The use of the phrase ʻat leastʼ probably indicates that the station was relieved that there had been agreement between the two leaders.Mega broadcast a news story in which the outcome of
1 ANT1, item 1, 1.7.2008.
2 Mega, item 2, 1.7.2008.
3 Plus TV, item 1d, 1.7.2008.
4 RIK, item 1, 1.7.2008.
5 Sigma, item 10, 3.7.2008.
6 RIK, item 2, 30.6.2008.
7 Mega, item 4, 30.6.2008.
8 Sigma, item 3, 30.6.2008.
9 Sigma, item 4, 30.6.2008.
10 Sigma, item 5, 30.6.2008.
11 ANT1 item 3, 30.6.2008.
12 ANT1, news bulletinʼs introduction, 1.7.2008.
13 Mega, item 1.7.2008.
14 RIK, item 1, 1.7.2008.
15 Plus TV, item 1d, 1.7.2008.
the meeting was positively described, and followed the report with a live debate on the subject between the stationʼs presenter and two journalists. Megaʼs newscaster said that ʻone could claim that the common basis [for the negotiations] has been found, this being a single sovereignty and citizenshipʼ.2The optimistic way of reporting this event could quite possibly indicate approval of this feature of the solution. Plus TVʼs presenter said that the fact that the single sovereignty and citizenship were discussed during the meeting was positive,3which signals a position in favour of this arrangement. RIKʼs cue read, ʻPresident Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat discussed… the issue of single sovereignty and citizenship and agreed in principle on these subjectsʼ.4 RIK appears to have found the specific development to be significant since these words were heard during the introduction to RIKʼs top news story. On 3 July a Sigma journalist reported that Talatʼs reference to a single sovereignty and citizenship was a step forward.5
The stations appeared to have remained consistent in their support of the government position on the settlement. Their degree of optimism at the possibility of a solution to the Cyprus Problem, however, increased since the previous period of study, as the hopes for an agreement between the two leaders were raised. The stations appeared to believe that in time Christofias and Talat might actually find the path to peace, in contrast to the way the meeting of Tassos Papadopoulos with the Turkish Cypriot leader was reported.
However, pessimistic messages were spotted in many news stories on the eve of the 1 July meeting, with all stations, excluding Plus TV, making gloomy predictions about the forthcoming meeting.
In RIKʼs cue on this subject, it was stressed that the two leaders set different priorities for their meeting.6 This matter was also pointed out in Megaʼs report, which used the caption, ʻChristofias-Talat: They go to tomorrowʼs meeting with different agendasʼ.7The same words were used by Sigma,8 whose negativity regarding the results of the following day was also projected by a survey, presented with the caption, ʻThe people are pessimistic regarding devel op ments on the Cyprus Problemʼ.9 Sigmaʼs next report, on a meeting between the Presidential commissioner, George Iacovou, and Talatʼs advisor, Ozdil Nami, carried the headline, ʻThey did not manage to speak the same languageʼ.10 This distrust of a positive outcome was also projected by ANT1, which broadcast an opinion poll about the meeting, highlighting that, ʻThe majority does not expect that important decisions will be takenʼ.11
The next dayʼs reports revealed that the dire predictions had not occurred, and moreover, they even expressed some optimism about the future. On 1 July, ANT1 introduced its news bulletin with the words, ʻWe go straight ahead to direct negotiations between Christofias and Talat for the settlement of the Cyprus Problem. Todayʼs meeting…opened the door to the second phase of developmentsʼ.12Mega stated, ʻthe meeting was particularly important for the overall future of the new effortʼ,13 while RIK mentioned that a ʻfew steps forwardʼ were made.14Plus TV, meanwhile, commented on the results of the meeting between the two leaders and recapitulated by saying, ʻwe are now in a good positionʼ.15Sigma was the only station that presented the meeting outcome with caution: while during the cue it stressed that there was agreement on the issue of single sovereignty
and citizenship, which was reported in the joint statement, it added that, nevertheless, the details for the implementation of these issues would be deferred to the direct phase of the negotiations.16
The Government and the Parties
The examples given below derive solely from two stations, RIK and Plus TV, because these were the only stations for which we could safely draw conclusions based on the material available for this section. Besides, the other channels revealed no noteworthy change in their depiction of the Christofias government in relation to the Papadopoulos government.
RIK appeared to continue providing favorable coverage to the government. However, because the government had changed, it would appear that RIK highlights and positively represents issues related to the government, regardless of the government stance or which party or parties form the government.
Plus TV, on the other hand, appeared to have completely shifted its position towards the government from the moment the leader of AKEL was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus.
Still wider coverage for one party
Sometimes a stationʼs broadcast focused solely on the actions or views of one particular person or party.
Plus TV most frequently overrepresented a specific party, since it often broadcast news stories, which no other station aired, related exclusively to AKEL.
For example, for three days in July Plus TV reported on events related to two concerts organized by EDON, the youth section of AKEL.17 No other channel broadcast these stories, which indicates Plus TV ʼs favouritism toward AKEL. The station widely covered the positions of AKEL. On 1 July it aired a live telephone conversation between the presenter of Plus TV and the Press Spokesman of AKEL, Andros Kyprianou, in which the politician was asked his opinion of the Christofias—Talat meeting.18 The view of no other party representative was heard with regard to this matter, a practice also noted during the previous period of study.
The views and actions of the government
Plus TV not only overrepresented the positions of AKEL, it also emphasized the stances of the Christofias government using other methods, some of which are illustrated below. RIK, too, promoted the governmentʼs views, and often used similar methods.
It appears that favorable coverage to the government was offered by highlighting the views, actions, or stances of an individual representing the government. This was often achieved by describing these views or actions in the cue of a news story as well as in one of the introductory themes which were announced by the newscaster before the beginning of a news bulletin. This promotion technique was also detected during the previous period of study and was most often used by RIK and Plus TV.
For example, in this period of analysis Plus TV aired a piece on the increasing number of fires in Cyprus, stating in the cue, ʻIn the following report the measures taken by the government will be presentedʼ.19 In the previous period of study, when the Papadopoulos government was in power, this station rarely included any reference to the government in its cues unless these were negative statements.
Similarly, in the present timeframe, RIK broadcast a news story about the rising inflation in the Eurozone and the measures proposed by labour union SEK to face this challenge; at the end of the cue the presenter said, ʻIn the following report, how the Minister of Finance answers [will be presented]ʼ.20 As in the earlier period analysed, RIK referred to the government stance during the cue. So now, although a shift in power had occurred, RIK continued to favour the government.
16 Sigma, item 1, 1.7.2008.
17 Plus TV, item 14, 1 and 2.7.2008; Plus TV, item 16, 3.7.2008.
18 Plus TV, item 1d, 1.7.2008.
19 Plus TV, item 11, 1.7.2008.
20 RIK, item 11, 30.6.2008.
Positive representation of the government
RIK and Plus TV not only seemed to highlight the views and actions of the government, but they have also depicted it in a flattering way.
Plus TV, on 6 July, aired a news story about the rising price of oil, and stated in the cue, ʻThe Minister of Finance stressed that they will continue offering economic benefits [to the people]ʼ,21 clearly emphasizing the positive efforts of the government to protect the public.
RIK, also on 6 July, noted in its cue that the government would protect the public from record-high fuel prices: ʻthe Ministry of Commerce attempts to protect the Cypriot consumerʼ.22
Moreover, these two channels tended to highlight the positive aspects of any government-related topic with little or no mention of the negative points. In a story reporting on the rent benefit increase, Plus TV noted first that the refugee parliamentary committee was content with the increase; not until later in the story was the audience informed that the President of the committee was not pleased with the rent benefit.23RIK, on the other hand, did refer to this fact in its cue and at the beginning of its coverage of the event, but still chose to begin with the positive reactions.
The presenter said, ʻSatisfaction with the increase in the benefits [given to] those who suffered and dissatisfaction at the proposed increase in the refugeesʼ rent benefitʼ.24 In this way, the bright side of the developments was stressed, and perhaps indirectly the actions of the government were praised.
During the previous dates studied, with Papadopoulos in power, Plus TV did not offer favorable coverage to the government; instead, it overrepresented and flatteringly depicted AKEL and its leader. Conversely, in both periods of study, RIK stressed the view of the govern ment, while it positively described its actions and its representatives. The fact that a new government had been formed appears to have been irrelevant.
The analysis of the data offered no evidence that the rest of the stations clearly positioned themselves in favor of or against a specific party or the government.
The European Union
EU issues continued to be viewed by the channels as significant, and Mega and ANT1 employed correspondents in Brussels to report on any EU developments.25RIK broadcast the most news stories related to the EU and Plus TV aired the fewest.26
In the collected data we found no evidence that the EU was depicted either as an ally or as an enemy of the Republic of Cyprus. Two channels, however ANT1 and Sigma, aired alarming stories about the efforts of the European Central Bank to curb inflation by raising its benchmark interest rate to 4.25%. In these reports it was stressed that this measure might slow down the Eurozone economy and adversely affect both households and borrowers.27 It seems that both stations were not only worried about the EUʼs decision but also did not fully approve it.
Us and the ʻother sideʼ
The issue of who exactly was considered to be ʻusʼ and who was considered as the ʻotherʼ, as well as the image projected for each category, are discussed next. The ideologies of the stations regarding these two groups and the practices they used to put them forward are presented simultaneously.
21 Plus TV, item 4, 30.6.2008.
22 RIK, item 12, 30.6.2008.
23 Plus TV, item 9, 2.7.2008.
24 RIK, item 19, 2.7.2008.
25 One of the news stories covered by Megaʼs correspondent was related to the fact that from 1.7.2008 France would hold the rotating EU presidency. See, Mega, item 11, 30.6.2008. On the same day, the correspondent of ANT1 informed the public about the inflation rate in the Eurozone. See, ANT1, item 12, 30.6.2008.
26 RIK aired eight reports related to the EU and a journalist reported live on events related to the Treaty of Lisbon. See, RIK, item 11, 30.6.2008;
items 4 and 15, 1.7.2008; items 5-7, 2.7.2008 and items 1, 2 and 6, 3.7.2008. Plus TV aired only two EU-linked stories and included in its newscast a telephone communication with a journalist who reported on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the parliament of the Republic of Cyprus. See, Plus TV, item 16, 1.7.2008 and items 12 and 13, 3.7.2008. ANT1 broadcast seven news stories linked to the EU, while events related to the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty were broadcast live. See, ANT1, item 12, 30.6.2008; items 12-13, 1.7.2008; item 15, 2.7.2008 and items 1-2, 5 and 10, 3.7.2008. Sigma also aired seven reports referring to the EU, while one of its journalists in the news room reported the developments on the Lisbon Treaty. See, Sigma, item 13, 30.6.2008; items 18-19, 1.7.2008; item 13, 2.7.2008 and items 3-4, 6 and 8, 3.7.2008. Although Mega employed a correspondent to cover EU- related issues, the station only broadcast three reports concerning the EU during this period of analysis. See, Mega, item 11, 30.6.2008; item 12, 1.7.2008 and item 2, 3.7.2008.
27 Sigma, item 8, 3.7.2008; ANT1, item 5, 3.7.2008.
Is Greece still viewed as part of ʻusʼ?
All the television channels maintained their relationship with Greece through their continued collaboration with certain Greek television stations. They also continued re-broadcasting various reports from Greek channels.28 The re-broadcasts referred either to news from other countries or to the current affairs of Greece. Four stations aired news stories on a Greek politicianʼs visit to Cyprus and/or the comments of the spokesperson from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Cyprus Problem.29
Two stations appeared to project special bonds between Cyprus and Greece. RIK, for example, re-broadcast a report from Greeceʼs ERT, but added that the leader of PASOK sent a ʻmessage of hope and support to the President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat..ʼ30 Similar examples were noted in the previous period of study.
On another occasion, RIK broadcast a report on the visit to Cyprus by the leader of the Greek party, ʻSynaspismosʼ, and used the caption, ʻSynaspismos stands with Cyprusʼ.31In this period, therefore, we can see that RIK remained consistent in promoting the view that Greece cared about the island and that there was a strong connection between the two countries.
Sigma, too, projected this same idea, as it had also done in the previous period studied. In a report on a statement made by the spokesperson of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Cyprus, Sigmaʼs caption read, ʻKoumoutsakos, The crisis in Turkey should not affect the [settlement of the] Cyprus Problemʼ.32 Sigma also aired a report on a huge Greek flag that Cypriot youngsters had made out of stones.33 No other station broadcast this story and the fact that Sigma aired a news story about a strong symbol of identity could indicate its ideology with regard to the bond between Cyprus and Greece.
The other side
In this part of the analysis we will again divide the ʻotherʼ into sub-categories for a more thorough examination. These groups, which were depicted by the stations as the ʻotherʼ, were,
a) The Turkish Cypriot community;
b) The Turkish Cypriot leadership;
c) Turkey.
The Turkish Cypriots are not the enemy
The analysis for this period did not reveal any significant change in the way the Turkish Cypriots were pictured in relation to the previous period of study. The stations continued to air news stories about this community, indicating that the Turkish Cypriotsʼ views and current affairs were still viewed as important.
Both Sigma34and Plus TV broadcast reports on a music event related to reunification, and the cue of the latter began with the following words: ʻThe continuation of the rapprochement efforts
…was observed during a multicultural event held last night at the Ledra Palaceʼ.35 The choice of the word ʻcontinuationʼ shows that Plus TV projected the event as part of an ongoing effort for rapprochement.
ANT1 aired an opinion poll that included the views of both communities on the Christofias -Talat meeting.36The fact that the views of the Turkish Cypriots were not excluded could mean that this group was perceived as a community whose stance was valued.
28 See for example, RIK, item 16, 30.6.2008; Plus TV, items 9, 17, 19 and 21, 30.6.2008; Mega, items 9, 14, 17, 30.6.2008; ANT1 items 13, 23, 30.6.2008; Sigma, item 26, 30.6.2008.
28 Plus TV, items 6-7, 3.7.2008; ANT1, item 18, 3.7.2008; Sigma, items 10 and 15, 3.7.2008; RIK, item 18, 3.7.2008.
30 RIK, item 16, 30.6.2008.
31 RIK, item 18, 3.7.2008.
32 Sigma, item 10, 3.7.2008.
33 Sigma. item 11, 2.7.2008.
34 Sigma, item 21, 30.6.2008.
35 Plus TV, item 18, 30.6.2008.
36 ANT1, item 2, 2.7.2008.
On the same day, RIK broadcast a news story about a Turkish Cypriot reporter who won an award in journalism. The first sentence of the voice-over showed Turkish Cypriots not as the ʻotherʼ but simply as Cypriots: ʻFor the first time Cyprus gets the prize of courage in journalism…ʼ.37
Only Mega did not air any reports linked to the Turkish Cypriot community in the period examined, so it cannot be determined whether this station remained loyal to its past stance on this community.
How the Turkish Cypriot leadership was portrayed
Compared to the previous period of study, there was a slight change in the way Mehmet Ali Talat was represented by some channels. On some occasions, and on some channels, he was no
Compared to the previous period of study, there was a slight change in the way Mehmet Ali Talat was represented by some channels. On some occasions, and on some channels, he was no