THE ATTITUDE OF TURKISH CYPRIOT MEDIA ON EU RELATIONS

Year 2009, Issue: 4, 231 - 242, 03.05.2009

Münevver Çayın Bektaş

Abstract

This study is devoted to the analyzing of the attitude
of Turkish Cypriot Press on the development of the relations between EU and
Turkish Cypriots, within the context of EU enlargement process. It has been
found that a part of the press supports the necessity o f the development of
relations with EU; however, a part of the press is more cautious on these relations.
The attitude of both groups has an important role in shaping the ideas of Turkish
Cypriots on EU.

Together with the developments in communication technologies,
media became the most effective power ccenter of the world. Likewise, media is
described as the fourth power in Cyprus, like most of the western countries.
Naturally, media today, possess the methods and the means to affect as well as
to change the attitudes and behavior of people. Media, possessing the power on
determining the attitudes is also effective in shaping national and International
relations.

In this research, the attitudes of Turkish Cypriot community
and the role of press on EU relations in recent past has been studied. Three
newspapers of the highest circulation were searched thoroughly, and the news
and interpretations concerning EU have been analyzed through “content analysis
method”. The results are compared with Euro Barometer 67 and 68 public opinion
(on Turkish Cypriots) results, and evaluated.

Keywords

Press, EU Relations, Attitude

References

• Direct Trade Union (draft), Brussels, 07.07.2004, COM(2004)466 Final, 2004/0148(ACC) by European Commission.