Google News Showcase launches in Cyprus

Google News Showcase, a curated online news experience and licensing program, launched in Cyprus yesterday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital news landscape.

Riccardo Terzi, Head of News Partnership South Europe, highlighted the significance of this launch. “For over 20 years, Google has been collaborating with publishers and journalists to promote a healthy, independent, and diverse news ecosystem. Through our partnerships with news organizations, we’ve heard from publishers in Cyprus and across Europe who are looking for new channels to connect with people and engage audiences online.”

The launch sees prominent Cypriot media outlets such as SPPMedia Group, which includes under its umbrella publications such as Kathimerini, KNews, 24Sports, 24News and Must magazine, Cyprus Mail, Dias Group, Digital Tree, MC Media, Phileleftheros Media Group and Politis join the News Showcase initiative. This partnership will enable these publishers to create News Showcase panels, offering readers more engaging ways to interact with news content and direct them to full articles on the publishers' websites.

“Participating publishers in Cyprus will create News Showcase panels, which provide more ways for readers to engage with the news and direct them to full articles on news publications’ websites. These panels enable publishers to deepen their relationships with readers and give them more direct control of presentation and branding. News Showcase panels from our partners in Cyprus have begun rolling out on Google News and Discover on Android and iOS,” Terzi explained.

An example of how a variety of News Showcase panel types will look with some of our partners in Cyprus.

Leaders from Cypriot media expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration. Demetris Lottides, CEO of SPPMedia Group, stated, "Our partnership through Google News Showcase allows us to deliver our high-quality journalism and premium content to readers in a more engaging and accessible way. This collaboration will strengthen our connection with our audience and contribute to a vibrant news ecosystem in Cyprus.”

Phanos Demetriou, CEO of Digital Tree, echoed this sentiment. "This partnership marks a significant milestone for Digital Tree Media as we continue to innovate and provide cutting-edge news and media solutions to our readers. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our vision to strengthen journalism in Cyprus and set new standards in the industry."

Chrisanthos Tsouroullis, CEO of Dias Group, added, “We are thrilled to participate in Google News Showcase. This program supports the news industry and aims to promote a more sustainable future for journalism.”

Kyriacos Iacovides, Managing Editor of Cyprus Mail, also expressed optimism. “We are very excited to have joined Google News Showcase as it will allow the Cyprus Mail to engage readers through a new channel and present our quality journalism to them.”

Globally, Google News Showcase has signed deals with over 2,700 publications and is live in 26 countries, including the United States, France, Spain, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Romania, and Slovenia.

In addition to the launch, Google is offering journalists training focused on new techniques for fighting misinformation online. “We look forward to continuing our work with news publishers and journalists in Cyprus and around the world, to help them advance their digital transformation and connect with more readers,” Terzi concluded.

This launch promises to enhance the digital news ecosystem in Cyprus, providing new opportunities for both publishers and readers in the evolving media landscape.