Social media becomes leading news source for Cypriots, journalists’ union study finds

Nicosia, Cyprus. Social media is the leading source of news for Cypriots, while trust in the media remains low, according to a study by the Union of Cyprus Journalists published on Tuesday.

The study also found that many respondents believe public opinion is manipulated and that Cypriot journalists do not enjoy freedom of expression.

Survey findings

The study included a survey of 1,000 media users and a smaller-scale survey of journalists.

A comparison of trends over time showed a steady increase in social media use and a relative decline in television use, the union said.

“People are most likely to get their news from social media, which is clearly in the lead, television and web portals,” the union said.

Trust and media quality

Across all categories, the main media outlets used were social media, web portals, television and radio. Television and radio were ranked highest for overall objectivity, reliability and quality.

Nearly half of Cypriots, 49 per cent, said they do not trust the media, while 40 per cent said they trust it.

Fake news and perceived manipulation

The proportion of respondents who described the prevalence of fake news in Cyprus as “very high” stood at 61 per cent.

Most respondents attributed fake news to social media, at 73 per cent, and online portals, at 42 per cent.

Regarding the investigation of scandals, 86 per cent said they believe public opinion is manipulated, mainly by the government, political parties and media owners.

Of those who believed manipulation occurs, 75 per cent primarily blamed government bodies, 67 per cent blamed media owners and 39 per cent held journalists primarily responsible, according to the union.

Journalistic freedom

About one in two Cypriots, or 49 per cent, said they do not believe journalists in Cyprus enjoy freedom of expression.