[creative-radio] Community Media receives endorsement from Cyprus media regulator as local & international actors call for support to the process of legal reform

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Suman Basnet <suman_basnet@asiapacific.amarc.org>
Date: 3 November 2012 21:23
Subject: [Asiapacific-general] Community Media receives endorsement from
Cyprus media regulator as local and international actors call for support
to the process of legal reform
To: Asiapacific-general@lists.amarc.org


From: Michael Simopoulos <michalis@cypruscommunitymedia.org>
Date: October 31, 2012, 4:27:51 PM GMT+05:30
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: CCMC Press Release: Community Media receives endorsement from
Cyprus media regulator as local and international actors call for support
to the process of legal reform
31 October 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information please contact Michalis Simopoulos on
+357-22-662269or email
michalis@cypruscommunitymedia.org

(Nicosia, 31/10/12) The Cyprus Radio and Television Authority (CyRTA) has
announced its intention to proceed with a reform of existing media
legislation to incorporate provisions for licensing of not-for-profit media
organisations.

Speaking in the presence of the UNESCO Chair on Community Media Professor
Vinod Pavarala at an event in Nicosia earlier this month, the Director of
CyRTA Mr Neophytos Epaminondas outlined the start of a process that will
see a change in the legislative framework as this relates to the operation
of community media in Cyprus. "The (Cyprus Radio and Television) Authority
is prepared to make a recommendation for reform of the legislation with the
aim of including "community radio and television" in the categories of
licenses that it grants to electronic media", said Epaminondas. "In pursuit
of this aim we expect to cooperate with the Ministry of Communications and
Works, and in particular the Department of Electronic Communications", he
added.

The event, organised by the Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC) under the
auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union, featured a keynote
lecture by Professor Pavarala who was on a week-long visit to Cyprus
participating in a series of civil society events. "I am greatly encouraged
by what I have heard from the Director (Mr Epaminondas) this evening, as
well as during my meeting with the President Mr Petrides this morning",
said Prof Pavarala. "The more I hear about the situation here (in Cyprus)
the more I am convinced of the relevance of community media to your present
and future", he added. Representatives from the Cyprus National Commission
for UNESCO and the Nicosia Municipality also highlighted the importance of
community media for empowering citizens to participate actively in a modern
democratic society.

These public pronouncements have offered hope for community media advocates
in Cyprus that the sector can finally get off the ground. "This is a
momentous day for Community Media in Cyprus", said Dr Angeliki Gazi,
Assistant Professor of Communications at the Cyprus University of
Technology who attended the event. "For the first time we have a public
commitment that Community Media will be recognised as part of national
legislation. We at the Cyprus University of Technology fully support this
move and are ready to contribute in the best way we can", added Gazi.

International organisations have also expressed their support to the
process. "Back in 2007, a report produced by the European Parliament
indicated that there was no Community Media activity in Cyprus", said
Pieter De Wit, President of the Community Media Forum Europe (CMFE), a body
whose membership spans 25 countries across Europe. "It is very encouraging
that the authorities in Cyprus appreciate the voice of civil society. CMFE
calls on CyRTA to continue to include community media actors in its
consultation process for reforming the existing legislation", added De Wit.

CCMC will be working closely with CyRTA, the Cyprus University of
Technology and representatives from civil society with the aim of
supporting policy change and developing a comprehensive strategy towards
amplifying unheard voices in Cyprus.

--
Michalis Simopoulos
Community Media Coordinator
Cyprus Community Media Centre
Tel: +357-22-660838 Mob: +357-99-573405
Skype User: michael9275

http://www.cypruscommunitymedia.org/
http://cypruscommunitymediacentre.wordpress.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/CCMCFilms
http://www.indexcyprus.com/site/
http://www.cmfe.eu/

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10


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