Shock as Orbán Allies Take Over the Nation's Leading Newspaper
Media professionals at the country's leading publication have shown disbelief after a media group viewed as friendly to PM Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, acquired the popular daily from its previous Swiss owners.
Context of Acquisition
The acquisition, which coincides with Hungary prepares for pivotal elections next year, is largely considered another attempt to increase state control on the news outlets.
A government-aligned media group, Indamedia, stated on Friday it had bought a portfolio of Hungarian titles, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a influential daily newspaper whose news site reaches about three million web users monthly.
Leadership Shake-up
Blikk's departing chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, said on Monday that he and a top executive were leaving in "common understanding" with the current proprietor.
They had been hired seven months ago to restructure Blikk, "shifting from dramatic coverage but on interesting stories" and to be "more audience-focused, reporting on politics, economics, and cultural topics," he said on Facebook.
Staff Responses
Staff at Blikk expressed being stunned. "I nearly experienced a medical emergency when I heard the news," stated one journalist, who requested to remain anonymous. "For me, this is professionally concerning."
Blikk has announced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.
Press Environment Concerns
Many journalists who have decided to stay acknowledge feeling in a complex circumstance as there are not many other outlets left to which they could look for work.
During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a widespread pro-government press environment to boost his image and poll numbers.
Political Context
Although important publication transactions have usually happened either post-election or during a calm political phase, the purchase of Ringier Hungary happens less than six months before April's parliamentary election.
Blikk was seen as a prime target for Orbán and his party at a period when opinion research are suggesting that they have a real challenger for the premier instance in more than a decade.
Political Rival Response
The political challenger, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom political group is promoting promises to eliminate entrenched dishonesty, has been direct about Orbán's "information apparatus" and the damage he says it has affected Hungary's political freedom.
He has questioned the Ringier Hungary acquisition, saying it represents another move by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's news publications.
Publication's Significance
Though Blikk is a daily publication, known for its entertainment section and dramatic titles, in the past few years it has also run multiple stories on possible misconduct.
"The publication represents by far the most read newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," commented a media analyst. "Its online site has become surprisingly popular in recent times, becoming the fourth most popular website in Hungary. If partisan content features in such extensively consumed and popular media, it will have an effect on the general population."
International Perspective
For more than a decade now, Hungary has functioned as a example for other "authoritarian-leaning governments" internationally.
Former American officials and their supporters have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it falls in media freedom indexes.
In 2022, Orbán told a gathering of US traditionalist groups that the way to governance necessitated "owning press organizations."
Past Media Regulation
In 2010, Orbán's administration passed a law that asserted state authority over the primary press oversight body and placed the public broadcaster in the management of allies.
Ownership Details
Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a pro-government entrepreneur who is also top executive of a state-aligned TV network.
In a declaration, Indamedia's second proprietor and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, said: "Through the acquisition of Ringier Hungary, the company is gaining a profitable publication group of comparable scale to Indamedia, with established industry presence and recognized names that play a defining role in the Hungarian media landscape."
Ringier said in a statement that its decision to sell was "driven exclusively by business strategy factors and our emphasis on our core digital activities in Hungary."
A state communicator was contacted for response.
