European publishers’ director in Cyprus for talks

Government spokesman Stephanos Stephanou met with the Director of the European Newspaper Publishers' Association, Valtteri Niiranen, with whom he discussed the consequences of the global financial crisis on the media and especially the printed press.
Stephanou said that the meeting was very useful, noting that he got a good picture about the workings of the Association as well as the situation in the media.
“These are very difficult times for the media, taking into consideration the global financial crisis, which has undoubtedly affected the media in Cyprus,” Stephanou said, adding that they discussed how the media are surviving in the very tough and competitive environment, as well as the responsibility of the media to carry out a duty set by the community itself, namely news, information and entertainment.
Niiranen said they discussed issues concerning the sector and especially policy and legislation on an EU level, public broadcasting and the role of the press in the upcoming European parliament elections.
He said the global financial crisis has brought about changes, with different developments in each of the 27 EU member states.
Stephanou and Niiranen also discussed the role of newspapers in education. Niiranen mentioned the case of Finland, where schoolchildren have the opportunity to read newspapers and gain skills in news appreciation.
Also present during the meeting were the Chairman and members of the Cyprus Publishers' Association.
The European Newspaper Publishers' Association represents 5,200 newspapers in the 27 EU member states, with a total daily circulation of 300 million.
Niiranen also met the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, the acting Director of the Press and Information Office and the chairman of the Journalists Union.