The public’s loss of faith in journalism isn’t accidental. While we journalists must acknowledge our role in the current state of affairs – even if these issues are global rather than local – the media remains a crucial check on power.
Industry awards should reinforce this watchdog role. Heaven help us if those we scrutinise control the awards themselves.
The Cyprus Sports Writers Union’s (EAK) withdrawal of Fanis Makrides’s award is no harm to him personally. He’ll continue his work according to his principles of what journalism should be.
A plaque or trophy in his office doesn’t define his work’s quality. What’s been seriously damaged is journalistic freedom and independence. By yielding to the Cyprus Football Association’s (CFA) pressure, EAK undermines the very mission of journalism. Our job isn’t to play nice with those we’re meant to hold accountable.
A twelve-member panel awarded Makrides first prize in the feature/investigation category for his probe into CFA President George Koumas’s potential conflicts of interest – serving as a CFA official while selling clubs’ TV rights as a businessman. The well-documented investigation merited recognition. However, just before the ceremony, the CFA (under Koumas) demanded EAK withdraw the award, citing legal grounds. EAK caved.
This isn’t the first attempt to muzzle journalism through threats, nor will it be the last. If media consistently yields to pressure, we might as well become PR firms. If we ourselves devalue our role, we deserve the contempt we receive.
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