Gradually, the office of a small newspaper turned into a full -fledged publishing house, a “publishing house”, as it was fashionable to say then. In addition to the weekly newspaper, the “Bulletin of Cyprus” at that time releases glossy magazines and dozens of thematic brochures on a variety of topics - from immigration and tax issues to Cyprus cuisine recipes. From then, to the very pandemic - the Media Cyprus media holding was the largest Russian -speaking publishing house in the entire Mediterranean region.
There are already 60 lanes in the newspaper. This is not only the most readable (circulation of 4,000 copies), but also the most voluminous newspaper in Russian in the history of Russian newspapers in Cyprus. Perhaps 2004–2005 were the brightest for the entire previous life of VK (so for convenience and brevity we reduced the words "Bulletin of Cyprus"). In the field of media and communications, we became not only the strongest players in Cyprus, but also the largest “Russian” media holding in the entire European Mediterranean.
It was required to protect the rights of compatriots (the immigration service was just headed by the notorious Madame Shakali), and we began to regularly hold meetings with the Minister of the Interior and other officials. The constant work on the protection of the rights of compatriots subsequently led to the creation of the Association of Russian -speaking residents of Cyprus "Horizon".
Our first thematic brochure entitled “Immigration Policy of Cyprus” was a great success. We reprinted her every few months. Firstly, the entire circulation immediately sold out. Secondly, in connection with the entry into the EU, Cyprus laws changed very quickly and it was necessary to inform readers about innovations in a timely manner. Let me remind you that the home Internet was available then less than 5% of the inhabitants of Cyprus. Therefore, other brochures appeared: as a result, there were about ten of them. Each of them is devoted to a separate topic, for example, “EU in questions and answers” or “Social insurance in Cyprus”. Then people perceived the information only in print, but it was already clear to us: the Internet is seriously and for a long time, it will completely change the publishing business.
Natalia Kardash
(Fragment from the book “20 years in Cyprus - in the center of events”, published in 2019)
This article is part of a series of articles about the history of the "Herald of Cyprus" dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the newspaper. Read other materials by tag#History of the Herald of Cyprus and by links:
How in 30 years the "Bulletin of Cyprus" has influenced the life of Russian -speaking people
1995. Advertising booklet, which accidentally became the beginning of a new era
1996. The newspaper comes to life: the first headings, the first letters of readers
1997. They came here, "to talk in Russian"
1998. "Bulletin of Cyprus" - almost "Literary Gazeta"
1999. "Bulletin of Cyprus" united lovers of books and films
2000. Library "Vestnik Cyprus" and the first KVN
2001. Change of team: a new stage in the history of the newspaper
2002. Seven employees and a thousand guests
2003. Sturrent period: magazines, courses, reference books
