Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus News Agency (CNA) is the principal national news agency of Cyprus. It reports on political, economic, social, cultural and sporting developments in Cyprus, while also covering international and regional affairs that affect the country or are of particular interest to Cypriot audiences. Its output has a strong public-information role: the agency serves newspapers, broadcasters, other news organisations, public and private institutions, diplomatic missions, international organisations, Cyprus-related communities overseas and media serving Cypriot and Greek communities abroad. The agency was officially established on 16 February 1976 at the initiative of Andreas Christofides, then Director General of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Christofides argued that Cyprus needed a national agency capable of gathering and distributing news from the island to domestic and international media. The official agency followed an earlier private news service that had operated under the same name from 1957 until 1967. At launch, journalist Andreas Hadjipapas became chief editor. With technical assistance from the government Press and Information Office, CNA initially transmitted a daily English-language bulletin to Reuters and to the Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool. CNA expanded its staffing and operations during the 1980s. In 1984 it began developing distribution and translation capacity beyond English. Legislation approved by the Cyprus House of Representatives in 1989 established the agency as a semi-governmental news organisation while providing for full editorial independence. The framework placed CNA under a seven-member board composed of media professionals and representatives associated with the Cyprus Journalists Union, the Cyprus Newspaper and Magazine Publishers Association, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and the Press and Information Office. The 1990s brought important editorial and technological changes. Greek-language news was introduced in 1996, meeting the needs of Cyprus's expanding local media market, and CNA launched an Internet homepage. A cooperation agreement with the Athens News Agency supplied the agency with its first computerised editing system. CNA also joined professional and regional networks, including the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies, the European Alliance of Press Agencies and the Commonwealth Press Union. It assumed leadership responsibilities within the Mediterranean alliance, including the presidency in 1998 and the secretary-generalship from 2000, with a further term beginning in 2003. CNA added Turkish-language news in 2002 and developed a dedicated photo service covering events in Cyprus. It also introduced a subscription press-release service on 6 January 2002, enabling organisations to distribute releases verbatim to the agency's media and institutional subscribers. Government Press and Information Office releases were distributed through the same service. A reorganisation approved alongside the 2004 budget was intended to increase editorial capacity, upgrade services and support continuous, 24-hour operation. Its international news supply is supported by commercial arrangements with Reuters, Agence France-Presse, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti and MENA, as well as cooperation or exchange agreements with agencies including the Athens News Agency, SANA, Xinhua, ANSA, IRNA, PAP, APS, ATA, the Macedonian Press Agency, BTA, STA, Kyodo and Rompres. Through arrangements with the Athens News Agency and European Pressphoto Agency, CNA has also made a broader selection of international photographs available to subscribers, alongside its own coverage of Cyprus. CNA's editorial remit includes the Cyprus issue, Cyprus's relationship with the European Union, domestic politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, social questions, culture, arts and sports. It maintains correspondents or stringers in Cyprus's towns and has reported through representation in locations including Brussels and…

Cyprus News Agency has roots in a private service created under the same name by Miltiades Christodoulou in 1957. When Christodoulou later became director of the government Press and Information Office, he transferred the service to journalist Christakis Katsambas. That earlier operation ended in 1967. The modern agency was officially created on 16 February 1976 following an initiative by Andreas Christofides, Director General of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. Christofides appointed Andreas Hadjipapas, a CyBC journalist and Cyprus correspondent for United Press International and Agence France-Presse, as chief editor. The Press and Information Office provided technical facilities, allowing CNA to send a daily English bulletin to Reuters and to the Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool. During 1984, CNA expanded its activity by recruiting journalists and other staff and by developing translation and distribution in languages other than English. The agency's institutional position was formalized in 1989, when the House of Representatives approved legislation defining CNA as a semi-governmental news organisation with full editorial independence. A seven-member board of directors was established, with membership drawn from media and public-information institutions, including the Cyprus Journalists Union, the Cyprus Newspaper and Magazine Publishers Association, CyBC and the Press and Information Office. A major modernization phase took place in the 1990s. CNA introduced Greek-language news in 1996, responding to the growth of Cyprus's domestic print and electronic media, and created an Internet homepage. A cooperation agreement with the Athens News Agency gave CNA its first computerized editing system. The agency also pursued membership in regional and international professional bodies, joining the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies, the European Alliance of Press Agencies and the Commonwealth Press Union. CNA gained a prominent role in Mediterranean news-agency cooperation. It was elected president of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies at the organization's seventh general assembly in Limassol in June 1998. During that period it hosted a technical seminar in Nicosia in cooperation with Agence France-Presse in March 1999. In June 2000, members unanimously elected CNA secretary-general of the alliance for three years, and the agency was re-elected to the position in 2003. In 2002, CNA added Turkish-language news and launched its own photographic service for local events. It also began a subscription press-release service on 6 January of that year, distributing clients' releases verbatim to media and other subscribers; releases from the government Press and Information Office were included. A reorganisation approved by the Council of Ministers and the House of Representatives with the 2004 budget was intended to strengthen staffing, improve services and enable 24-hour agency operations. CNA's subsequent operating model has combined original reporting with content exchange and commercial arrangements. It has maintained agreements with Reuters, AFP, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti and MENA, and cooperation or exchange relationships with a range of national and regional agencies, including ANA, SANA, Xinhua, ANSA, IRNA, PAP, APS, ATA, the Macedonian Press Agency, BTA, STA, Kyodo and Rompres. It has also distributed photography through arrangements involving the Athens News Agency and European Pressphoto Agency. The agency's coverage remains centered on Cyprus, including domestic politics, the Cyprus issue, European Union affairs, foreign policy, business, social developments, culture, arts and sport. It also reports on regional and international institutions such as the EU and Council of Europe when relevant to Cyprus. Its distribution has included Greek, English and Turkish services, with subscribers ranging from newspapers and broadcasters to diplomatic missions, international organisations, government bodies, private institutions and overseas Cypriot and Greek media.

1. 2004Reorganisation approved

   The Council of Ministers and House of Representatives approved a reorganisation intended to increase staffing, upgrade services and support 24-hour operations.

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2. 2002Turkish service and photo service added

   CNA introduced Turkish-language news and its own photo service for coverage of events in Cyprus.

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3. 2002Press-release service launched

   On 6 January, CNA introduced a subscription service for distributing client press releases to the agency's media and institutional subscribers.

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4. 2000Appointed AMAN secretary-general

   CNA was unanimously elected secretary-general of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies for a three-year term and was re-elected in 2003.

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5. 1998Elected to lead Mediterranean agency alliance

   CNA became president of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies at its seventh general assembly in Limassol.

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6. 1996Greek service and Internet presence introduced

   CNA launched Greek-language news and created an Internet homepage. A cooperation agreement with the Athens News Agency also provided a computerized editing system.

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7. 1989Editorial-independence framework

   Legislation established CNA as a semi-governmental news organisation with full editorial independence and a seven-member board.

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8. 1984Expansion beyond English

   CNA expanded staffing and began developing translation and distribution of dispatches in languages other than English.

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9. 1976Official establishment of CNA

   The modern Cyprus News Agency was officially established on 16 February at the initiative of Andreas Christofides.

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10. 1957Earlier private news service established

    A private news service using the Cyprus News Agency name was established by Miltiades Christodoulou. It later passed to journalist Christakis Katsambas and ceased operating in 1967.

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A publicly oriented, editorially independent national news agency that connects Cyprus's domestic media and institutions with international news networks. CNA differentiates itself through multilingual reporting, specialized coverage of Cyprus and the Cyprus issue, institutional distribution, and cooperation with major regional and global news agencies.

• Daily news dispatchesNews agency service1976

  CNA's core service is the continuous collection and distribution of news about Cyprus and relevant international developments. Coverage includes domestic politics, the Cyprus issue, European affairs, foreign policy, business, society, culture, arts and sport. Dispatches are supplied to newspapers, broadcasters, institutions, diplomatic missions and other subscribers.

• Multilingual news servicesLanguage service2002

  CNA distributes news in Greek, English and Turkish. English was central to the agency's initial international distribution, Greek was added in 1996, and Turkish was introduced in 2002. Turkish-language material is also made available online and circulated by email to Turkish Cypriot and Turkish media and political organisations.

• Photo serviceNews photography2002

  CNA supplies photographs from events in Cyprus through its own photographic operation. Through arrangements with the Athens News Agency and European Pressphoto Agency, subscribers can also access a wider selection of photographs covering international and regional events.

• Press Release ServiceInformation distribution2002

  Introduced on 6 January 2002, the subscription Press Release Service distributes organisations' releases verbatim to CNA's media and other subscribers. The service also distributes releases from the Cyprus government Press and Information Office.

• Press review and overseas news summaryNews summary

  CNA has provided a Greek-language Cyprus press review and a 24-hour Greek-language news summary for overseas subscribers. It has also produced a bulletin focused on activities and affairs involving Cypriots abroad.

• 2004Organisational reorganisation and planned 24-hour operationStrategy

  The agency sought to increase editorial capacity and improve the range and timeliness of its services.

  What changed. The Council of Ministers and House of Representatives approved a new organisational chart, with full implementation planned by the end of 2005.

  Aftermath. The reorganisation was intended to support expanded staffing, upgraded services and continuous operation.

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• 2002Introduction of Turkish news and photographic servicesProduct launch

  CNA sought to widen language coverage and add richer material for media subscribers.

  What changed. The agency introduced Turkish-language news and launched its own photo service for Cyprus events.

  Aftermath. CNA expanded its multilingual and multimedia role, including direct distribution to Turkish Cypriot and Turkish media.

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• 1996Launch of Greek-language news and Internet presenceProduct launch

  The growth of Cyprus's local print and electronic media increased demand for domestic-language agency material.

  What changed. CNA introduced Greek-language news, created an Internet homepage and adopted a computerized editing system through cooperation with the Athens News Agency.

  Aftermath. The changes broadened CNA's local reach and modernized its editorial workflow.

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• 1989Statutory transition to a semi-governmental agencyStrategy

  The Cyprus House of Representatives adopted legislation to provide a formal operating framework for CNA while preserving its editorial independence.

  What changed. CNA was defined as a semi-governmental news organisation governed by a seven-member board representing relevant media and public-information bodies.

  Aftermath. The framework established CNA's institutional position and governance model as a national news agency.

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1. Cyprus News Agency
2. Cyprus News Agency official website