We followed the reports published in POLITIS, PHILELEPHTHEROS and SIMERINI newspapers between 1-10 February 2010 TV programmes
TV programme ‘60 Minutes’ – SIGMA Channel The “invisible hands” that guide migrant workers to the Welfare Department Failed lawyers guide immigrants to the Welfare Department for the sake of ‘easy’ profit Immigrant lying on the floor inside the Welfare Offices started screaming and complaining about the reduction of the allowance he received. They are guided to such protest and threatening behaviours. Asylum seekers: plentifully survive on welfare benefits For the Welfare Department all humans are equal. However, a certain number of the department employees often distinguish “our people” and “the aliens” Following instructions given back home asylum seekers enter our country on false medical certificates claiming up to 3000 euros and they protest in case they are given less. The Welfare Dept employees do not refuse to do their duty. A pregnant lady working in the dept was violently hit and therefore lost her baby.
Car Accidents A different policy applies in case an alien gets involved in a car accident. When the victims are aliens there’s a short report made whereas a longer more detailed one is given for Cypriot victims (e.g. Simenrini Newspaper 7 and 8 Febr. 2010)
Petit Crime by immigrants/Cypriots An extensive reference is made in case the crime was committed by a non-Cypriot.
The Police encourage Xenophobia
The Barbaric Customs of Immigrants
Cannibal behaviour, or even worse than that, shown on TV of the the so called Yiannis Ayiannis…
Is ours a better jungle than theirs?
Not registered human beings
Conclusions There were no serious problems related to the coverage of the subject of immigrants (migrant workers, asylum seekers) by the Media in Cyprus. The Press coverage of the subject of Immigrants is more carefully given than the coverage made by the Televison programmes.