Union of Cyprus Journalists condemns online harassment of media professionals

The Board of Directors of the Union of Cyprus Journalists (ESK) has issued a statement expressing concern over the intensification of abusive and disparaging comments directed at journalists on social media. The union notes that both anonymous and identified accounts frequently engage in harassment, using derogatory terms such as 'paid,' 'puppets,' and 'mouthpieces' whenever there is disagreement with journalistic coverage. ESK emphasizes that these attacks have increased recently due to the nature of current events. The leadership describes this behavior as harmful to society and detrimental to the democratic process, which relies on informed and professional reporting. Journalists are reminded by the union that they possess the same fundamental rights to express opinions as any other professional group. The organization calls on all members to resist such verbal abuse and public shaming. The statement underscores that protecting the integrity of the journalistic profession is a matter of democracy and self-respect. Furthermore, the union reaffirms its commitment to defending freedom of expression, a core principle of their professional duties.