In the presence of House Speaker Annita Dimitriou, relatives, friends, and a crowd of journalists, the funeral service for Giorgos Tsalakos, the “pillar” of Cypriot private television and print and online media.

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Giorgos Tsalakos, who leaves behind more than forty years of dedicated service to accurate and objective journalism, passed away last Friday after a months-long battle with cancer, plunging the journalistic communities in Cyprus and Greece into mourning.

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In a written statement, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides noted that the late journalist “served journalism with consistency, professionalism, and integrity, holding the right to responsible information as a non-negotiable value in life.”

“It was with deep sorrow that I learned of the death of Giorgos Tsalakos, a man who served journalism with consistency, professionalism, and integrity, and who regarded the right to responsible information as a non-negotiable value in life.

Giorgos Tsalakos had a long and distinguished career in the media, serving the field of journalism in positions of high responsibility. Among other roles, he served as Editor-in-Chief at ERT, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RIK, as well as a senior executive at other Cypriot media outlets, leaving his own significant mark on journalism.

He stood out for his ethics, objectivity, integrity, and breadth of knowledge in his field. Through his approach to life, he earned the esteem and respect of his colleagues and, more broadly, of society.

I extend my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”

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Giorgos Tsalakos served as the first News Director of Alpha Cyprus. In 2015, he took the helm of the news division at the then-newly established station and, in a short period of time, succeeded in creating a reliable and pioneering News Department.