We can say that 2018 has become a year of strengthening international relations and launching new communication formats with readers. At the beginning of this year, we decided to completely stop printing the paper version of the newspaper, as its losses pulled down the whole group. But a miracle happened, an unexpectedly found a philanthropist, who believed that such a newspaper Cyprus was needed, and began to maintain its existence. We began to publish the paper version monthly, strengthening the daily online work on the site. In 2018, we adopted representatives of European countries, held the 13th Cyprus-Russian festival, celebrated the 23rd of the newspaper, arranged the first book fair and first held a large-scale conference on personal growth in Cyprus.
New rhythm: from weekly to daily news platform
The paper version of the newspaper became monthly, and to the question why we began to go out less often, we answered: “Because we began to come out more often”! After all, the news department has long been transferred to a daily regime. The score went on the clock and minutes, we worked for wear. But soon they realized that for a long time we could not stand in such a crazy rhythm, stopped competing with news agencies and developed their own unique rhythm.
International dialogue: Meeting of the European Russian Alliance
In March, Limassol hosted a working meeting of the European Russian Alliance. At the invitation of the "Herald of Cyprus", representatives of France, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Great Britain, Switzerland, Latvia, Italy, Poland, and Germany arrived. In those years, the European Russian Alliance is an association of public figures of Russian -speaking communities of the European Union and the European Economic Community. I was among the creators of the alliance and sincerely believed in what we did.
“We want to see Europe peaceful and one, extending from the Atlantic to the Urals. We want the EU eastern partnership countries not to be a abyss, but by the binding bridge between the EEC and Russia, ”this is how the mission of the alliance was formulated at the beginning of the two thousandths, at the time of its creation. And then such a task seemed quite achievable.
13th Cyprus-Russian festival: tradition is strong
The Cyprus-Russian festival, which became more and more every year, took place for the 13th time that year. We seem to be not superstitious, but still worried. However, everything went well! This grandiose holiday has long become a symbol of friendship, mutual understanding and close connection between the peoples of Russia and Cyprus.
He annually gathered more than 12 thousand people, among whom not only Russians and Cypriots, but also residents and guests of the island of various nationalities. Confirmation of the importance of the project and the special honor for the organizers was the participation of high guests in the official opening ceremony of the festival.
Traditionally, the President of the Republic of Cyprus opened the festival, the Russian ambassador and mayor of Limassol were always present, and honored guests were in the forefront. In a welcoming speech that year, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis said: “At the festival, we pay tribute to the powerful ties that our countries unite, show rich cultural traditions and celebrate our sincere friendship.” He added that for many Russians Cyprus became the second home, and for Cypriots Russia has long been much larger than a business partner.
23rd of the newspaper: A reason for new ideas
In July, we celebrated the 23rd of the newspaper Vestnik Cyprus. This is a young age for a person, a solid experience for a newspaper and a whole stage of life for the editorial staff. To thank business partners and friends for many years of cooperation, the VK editorial staff organized a solemn reception.
Of course, 23 years old is not a round date, but it was a wonderful occasion to meet friends and those people who worked for these years and continues to work in the editorial office, helps to take events. Birthday is a kind of line, the moment when you need to evaluate the achieved and find new opportunities.
First book fair: readers appreciated
On September 1, we first organized a book fair. On that day, in the editorial office of the “Bulletin of Cyprus” it was crowded, dozens of readers exchanged books or chose new publications. The concept was simple: we collected and sorted books for a week, and on the day of knowledge provided people with the opportunity to replenish our library.
This idea turned out to be so in demand that, according to the numerous requests of readers from Nicosia, on October 1 we organized a similar fair in the capital. As a result, hundreds of people got the opportunity to read something new, exchange children's books, give unnecessary books to other people. Inspired by success, we decided to hold such meetings annually.
Boil in Cyprus: Development Space
In the fall, an unusual conference on the practices of the development of Kipir took place for us. Unusual because more than 90% of its participants arrived from abroad. This is an interesting Russian project that collects business trainers and generally thinking people on the same site for communication and discuss topical issues.
First of all, the conference is addressed to coachs, business trainers, and heads of HR departments. She, of course, is useful for the leaders of companies and all those who are engaged in professional and personal growth.
Cyprus experience - in the world arena
Immediately after its completion, I flew to Moscow to participate in the World Congress of Russian compatriots. Our task at that Congress was to talk about what is happening in Cyprus, what events are held here and in which of them compatriots from other countries could take part.
After all, the life of the Russian -speaking community in Cyprus is unique, it can serve as an excellent example for organizations from other countries, and the island itself - due to its geographical position and organizational capabilities of the Horizon association and the Bulletin of Cyprus - could become a place for regular meetings of active and indifferent compatriots from Europe and Asia.
Talent competition: new measurement of the Galaxy project
The Galaxy of Talents project (“Constellation of Talents”) turned 12 years old. Every year, thousands of children and adults come to look at colorful musical and dance children's shows. In November, this large -scale children's project (more than 1300 young artists take part in it) was replenished with another event.
We wanted to help young musicians, give children an incentive for development and growth, encourage those who have already reached a certain level of performing skills. Therefore, we organized a children's music competition (piano and vocals), whose jury members were 20 outstanding Cypriot musicians. This initiative with great enthusiasm was supported by the Vyacheslav Zarenkov charity foundation “Creative World” and the Directorate of the Pattihio Municipal Theater.
The first competition in the history of the project was successful, thanks to him, the “Bulletin of Cyprus” opened new talents. A competition is not only a serious test, but also an invaluable experience that is simply necessary for future musicians.
Cyprus in the global context: World Congress of the Russian press
That year, the US 20th World Congress of the Russian press was held in the United States. Thanks to the World Association of the Russian Press, representatives of the "Herald of Cyprus" in different years visited various countries, met dozens of interesting people, with hundreds of colleagues working around the world. We had the opportunity to expand their horizons, exchange experience and think about new ways of developing publishing business.
Security is in the spotlight
Then we organized several important meetings, including with the leadership of the Limassol police, where the issues of apartment thefts and the safety of citizens as a whole were discussed. The mayor of the city, the head of the city police and his deputy for operational work, as well as the head of the department of criminal investigations took part in the first conversation.
Meeting with the mayor of Limassol: an honest conversation with the inhabitants of the city
In December, at the initiative of the newspaper Vestnik Cyprus, another separate meeting of the mayor of Limassol with a group of Russian -speaking residents of the city was held. It was attended by 22 public representatives and heads of municipal services: head of the engineering and technical department, head of the street cleaning department, head of the transport department, and head of the health department.
The editors of the newspaper received more than 200 issues from readers relating to one of the five areas: the cleanliness of the city, the functioning of playgrounds, urban planning and the appearance of the city, the state of roads and parking lots, as well as volunteer assistance to the city.
The most active readers of the VK took part in preliminary discussions - this helped to formulate issues most accurately and capacious and propose their decisions. We deliberately abandoned the format of the conference, which does not allow organizing a rather close feedback. Instead, it was decided to collect caring residents of the city and representatives of the authorities at the same table and establish a direct dialogue.
The result is a fruitful meeting, during which we not only received answers to questions, but also transferred their proposals to improve the security of the city directly to persons affecting decision -making about its future.
I want to note that we have not limited themselves to these two meetings. Since then, we have been conducting planned work with the municipality, and with the city police, and with readers of the “Herald of Cyprus”.
Vestnik Kipra Group: more than a newspaper
In that year, we changed a lot in the internal work of our group, revised the strategy and priorities. "Bulletin of Cyprus" has long grown. Although we all, answering a question about the place of work, are still saying “I work in the newspaper”, in fact the “Vestnik Kipra” has long been Vestnik Kipra Group-a group of companies working for the benefit of all residents of Cyprus, regardless of whether they say in Russian or not.
For example, people of 20–25 nationalities take part in business conferences, and in children's projects a scatter of countries and languages even more, and all children live in Cyprus.
The educational center "Vestnik Cyprus" offers dozens of various educational programs, the translation bureau has firmly taken one of the leading places among companies involved in professional (legal, banking, financial, medical) topics.
As part of the consulting business, we help foreigners adapt to Cyprus, and Cyprus businessmen - to navigate in Russian realities. But in Cyprus itself, we began to work not only with Russians and immigrants from countries that once entered the USSR. Now the "Bulletin of Cyprus" works with all the expansion in Cyprus, with all foreigners - in terms of publications, and in terms of events.
Poetry and beauty: new formats, new locations
In the fall of that year, we, together with the Vyacheslav Zarenkov Foundation, held the first poetry contest "Kiprus". His goal was to identify and encourage talented poets living in Cyprus.
The Health & Beauty forum grew so much that there were no halls left in the Limassol hotels that could accommodate our huge exhibition and 50–80 lectures. Therefore, the autumn event was held in the port of Limassol, in the futuristic premises of the passenger terminal. The place is amazing! Beautiful, clean, large parking. We were the discoverers of this site. (It is a pity that the port was forbidden to hold the events in the terminals, otherwise we would have stayed with this project there.) We are constantly inventing new ideas for the forum. So, in the fall of 2018, for the second time, we held a spectacular contest of make -up artists, showing the collection of underwear, awarding the most popular and talented health and beauty workers.
Awarding of the winners of the first poetic contest "Kiprus" Cooperation with the university: another bridge
One of the publishers of Vestnik Cyprus Igor Nosonov was appointed an official representative of the Moscow Polytechnic University in Cyprus. So, for any issues of cooperation with this university or training in it, it was possible to contact the newspaper.
Natalia Kardash (a 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
2004. The largest regional media holding
2005. The anniversary year and the emergence of multinational holidays
2006. The editors received up to 500 visitors per week
2007. Uniting adults and children, newspaper employees established the Association
2008. Good traditions "Bulletin of Cyprus"
2009. How we went on the air: the story of "Televials" in Cyprus
2010. Invisible work, visible result
2011. Chess, business journal and economic diplomacy: year of great ambitions
2012. Studs, nesting dolls and helicopter: unforgettable year
2013. Lost almost all advertisers. But they did not give up!
2014: year of new formats and historical achievements
2015. 20 years with the reader: intuition and quick changes in the leg with the times
2016: "Bulletin of Cyprus" turned into a daily edition
2017. Now the events "contain" the newspaper
