Lodging a complaint to the Cyprus Media Complaints Commission
for breaching of the Code of Practice is simple and easy.
Complaints can be either made in writing and by posting the letter to
the address of the CMCC provided in this page, or by e-mail, making
use of the special form. Just click on the
COMPLAINT FORM and follow the instructions. You can also fax it to
22427747.
It is free and secure
You do not need a lawyer but you can make your complaint through one
of your choice.
If you have any queries after reading this, you can call 22427717 during
office hours.
What you should
know
Before making a complaint it is advisable
to read the Code of Practice. It is short and written in intelligible
language. If you feel that you have been offended by any publication
or radio-television transmission and you seek the right of rebuttal,
you should first apply to the publication or radio-tv station.
If your request is not satisfied, you may proceed with the lodging of
a complaint to the Cyprus Media Complaints Commission.
A complaint must be made within a month of the publication or transmission
or from the point in time at which you took cognisance of it.
What you need to do
When making a complaint, it should be as clear and concrete
as possible. Point out which part of the Code of Practice you believe
it has been breached.
If a publication were involved, you should send by post a copy to the
CMMC. If it were a radio or TV broadcast and you have a taped copy,
it would be helpful to send it to the CMCC, giving details as to the
date of the publication or the broadcast.
The CMCC is not a judicial body -though in examining a complaint it
takes care to hear both sides and possibly witnesses if any are proposed-
and therefore it does not adjudicate damages. It only decides whether
a publication or broadcast does violate any provisions of the Code of
Practice.
The CMCC may ask the offending party to make amends, to give the complainant
the chance of rebuttal or to ask for its decision to be published.
If you are seeking any damages, you should apply to a court of law.
In such a case, the CMCC cannot examine the same complaint for as long
as the matter is sub-judice.
After a complaint has been lodged
When
a complaint has been made, the CMCC may ask for complementary information
or clarification.
If such information or clarification is not necessary, the CMCC will
try to secure amends, if this is what the complainant wishes. Otherwise,
it will ask the other party to supply the material which has been named
as offending and will call both sides to state their case.
After both sides have been heard, the CMCC will decide whether a breach
of the Code of Practice has taken place and will proceed according to
the provision of the Code.
