"Facts, not noise", this is news agencies' role in the geopolitical game, according to EANA President Stefano De Alessandri, highlighting the need for news agencies to have the courage to tackle sensitive issues, even in complicated times like these.
He was addressing the conference of the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA), hosted by the Cyprus News Agency, in Larnaca, on Thursday, during which the geopolitics of news and the current technological and economic challenges facing news organisations were discussed.
In his welcome address, De Alessandri, said that geopolitics is part of the daily news cycle and runs through almost all the topics covered, such as energy, technology, migration, elections, and war.
“Information and news were always seen as instruments of power, but changes in the geopolitical landscape brought along an increased pressure on all news agencies”, he continued, adding that they must maintain their role as part of the critical infrastructure of democratic societies.
“Facts, not noise, this is our role in the geopolitical game. That is why we need to have the courage to tackle sensitive issues, even in complicated times like these. Our credibility at home and abroad depends on our editorial independence, which we need to keep”, he noted.
In his address, the President of the Cyprus News Agency's Board of Directors, Andreas Frangos, said that the conference’s theme could hardly be more relevant.
“We live in a world where geopolitical developments shape the flow of information, while information itself influences international relations, public opinion, and democratic societies. In this environment, the role of news agencies is more important than ever”, he continued.
“For Cyprus, situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, the relationship between geopolitics and information is particularly significant. Our geographical position reminds us of the importance of reliable journalism and international cooperation. This is precisely why organisations such as EANA matter so much. They bring us together to exchange experiences, address common challenges, and strengthen cooperation between European news agencies”, he stressed.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Theodora Konstantinidou, outlined the priorities of Cyprus’ foreign policy, which comprise the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, upholding the international law, including UNCLOS, protecting human rights, committing to multilateralism and respect towards the EU acquis, the values and principles underpinning the actions of the Union.
“Our conviction is that the only way to safeguard security is to make best use of all diplomatic means, and develop principled regional and international synergies, aiming at establishing interconnected interests, addressing the questioning of values and principles that were considered to be granted in the past, and counter revisionist and aggressive modus operandi by a number of countries which attempt to exploit the current geopolitical situation and the power gaps”, she further stressed.
“We bear a duty as states, citizens, journalists, institution, and international organisations, to join forces in order to secure a peaceful and prosperous future for all nations and foster alliances like EANA”, she added.
In his presentation, Nikos Sarris, Researcher at the National Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, referred to the EU Digital Services Act, noting that the online platforms’ interaction and visibility are very limited.
“The platforms have to work much harder towards that, and there are pressures from the European Commission to make them operate towards that direction. The data are not ready for research, while there are still some ambiguities into how the DSA should be enforced. So we do need still some help from the European Commission and from the whole community to work together”, he added.
He also referred to his association with the Mediterranean Digital Media Observatory (MedDMO), a regional hub of the European Digital Media Observatory covering Greece, Cyprus and Malta that performs collaborative fact checking by focusing on emerging disinformation campaigns relevant specifically to the Mediterranean territory.
CNA’s Director, Dinos Phinicarides, presented the agency’s history and structure, and highlighted its relationship with the Cypriot diplomatic missions worldwide, as well as embassies accredited to the Republic of Cyprus.
He also referred to bilateral agreements with numerous international agencies and subscribe to leading global and regional wire services, while being an active member of key news agency federations, including EANA, AMAN and ΑΒΝΑ-SEE.
Presentations and discussions with representatives of the Finnish and the Norwegian news agencies followed, while in the afternoon, delegates participated in a tour of the Old Town of Nicosia.
CNA/KA/EPH/2026
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY