Estia newspaper marks 150th anniversary in Cyprus event

On October 19, 2026, the University of Cyprus hosted an anniversary event titled '150 Years of Estia – Greece – Cyprus' to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the newspaper. The event featured addresses by high-ranking officials who discussed the role of responsible journalism in an era dominated by rapid technological shifts and digital media.

Former President Nicos Anastasiades praised the newspaper’s long history and emphasized the distinction between professional journalism governed by codes of ethics and the perceived irresponsibility found in modern mass media. Meanwhile, current President Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the urgent challenges posed by fake news, clickbait, and the unregulated use of artificial intelligence. He warned that these phenomena, alongside financial dependencies and disinformation, negatively affect democratic processes in Cyprus, Greece, and across Europe.

While acknowledging that social media platforms facilitate pluralism and the free exchange of ideas, the speakers stressed the necessity of a regulatory framework to address human rights violations and misinformation. President Christodoulides noted that his administration continues to support initiatives aimed at safeguarding ethical standards in information, building upon efforts initiated by previous governments to address the risks posed to society by uncontrolled digital content.