Where do Cypriots get their information? New study

Social media has become the most frequently cited source of news by Cypriots, with 73% of respondents reporting using them for this purpose. Television was cited by 69%, news portals by 55%, and radio by 37%. Online news outlets are growing particularly rapidly.

The survey was conducted by MRC–Cypronetwork Ltd on behalf of the Cyprus Union of Journalists. It surveyed 1,000 adult urban and rural residents. Data was collected in July 2026 through face-to-face and telephone interviews.

Social media before television

When asked about the media used to follow news on topics of interest to them, respondents most often indicated:

• social media – 73%,
• television – 69%,
• online information portals – 55%,
• radio – 37%,
• the printed press in Cyprus – 10%,
• foreign press – 8%,
• Greek press – 7%.

The gap between social media and television isn't yet significant, but the trend is clear. Television still reaches the vast majority of the population, but its share has fallen from 72% to 69% over the past year.

Radio recorded an even greater decline – from 43% to 37%.

News portals with the highest growth

The most visible change was observed in online news portals. In 2025, 45% of survey participants indicated them. In 2026, this figure rose to 55%.

This means an increase of 10 percentage points in one yearSocial media also gained ground, reaching 73%.

When respondents were asked to name the single most important medium for topics that interest them, the differences were even more pronounced:

• social media chose 44%,
• television – 26%,
• information portals – 20%,
• radio – 4%.

The results show that social media are no longer just a place to share content published by newsrooms. For a large portion of the audience, they have become the starting point for their daily search for information.

In the case of scandals, social media is also the first choice

A separate question concerned information about potential scandals and matters under investigation.

The respondents indicated the following as the first source of such information:

• social media – 38%,
• television – 32%,
• information portals – 21%,
• radio – 4%,
• printed press – 2%.

The study also compared all respondents' responses, not just their first choice. Social media accounted for 75%, television for 59%, and news portals for 55%.

These two data sets should not be confused. The first shows the media chosen first, while the second includes all sources mentioned by study participants.

Newspapers and portals important for investigative journalism

The answers to the question of which media best carry out the tasks of investigative journalism were distributed differently.

A total of 38% of respondents cited newspapers and websites: 21% chose print media, and 17% chose websites. Television and radio combined for 25%.

This may mean that recipients distinguish between where they first encounter a message and the medium doing the work needed to reveal and document it.

Social media can therefore be responsible for quickly reaching recipients, but traditional editorial offices and portals remain important for more complex materials.

Residents criticize Cypriot media harshly

Survey participants also rated the quality of media performance. Average was the most common rating in most categories.

In the case of information quality, 40% of respondents gave an average rating, 35% positive and 23% negative.

Media objectivity was assessed on average by 44% of respondents, positively by 32% and negatively by 22%.

In terms of ethics and compliance with professional rules, 38% of respondents gave an average rating, 36% gave a positive rating, and 24% gave a negative rating.

The behavior of media representatives was rated the best: 43% of opinions were positive, 36% average, and 19% negative.

Assessments regarding knowledge and specialization were more critical – 34% of respondents gave an average assessment, 30% positive and 24% negative.

The survey covered 1,000 residents

The survey was conducted in July 2026 among 1,000 people over the age of 18. Participants included residents of both urban and rural areas.

Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and telephone conversations. Multistage stratified random sampling was used, and the results were statistically analyzed and compared with previous studies.

The most important change is not only occurring between traditional and digital media. The connection between news portals and social media channels is playing an increasingly important role: editorial teams prepare content, while social media is becoming the first point of contact with news for many readers.

Sources: Cyprus Union of Journalists, MRC–Cypronetwork Ltd, philenews.