🔗 Share this article

Media professionals at Hungary's leading newspaper have shown disbelief after a media group considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, purchased the popular daily from its former Swiss owners.

Context of Acquisition

The buyout, which comes as Hungary approaches crucial elections next year, is largely considered another attempt to increase state control on the media.

A pro-Orbán media group, Indamedia, declared on Friday it had purchased a portfolio of Hungarian media assets, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a widely-read tabloid whose digital edition attracts approximately three million digital visitors monthly.

Management Shake-up

Blikk's former top editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, announced on Monday that he and another senior manager were departing in "mutual agreement" with the current proprietor.

They had been hired seven months ago to reposition Blikk, "shifting from dramatic coverage but on engaging content" and to be "more reader-centered, addressing politics, economics, and cultural topics," he said on Facebook.

Staff Responses

Workers from Blikk expressed being stunned. "I nearly experienced a medical emergency when I learned about the news," remarked one reporter, who asked to stay unnamed. "Personally, this is professionally concerning."

Blikk has introduced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Media Landscape Concerns

Many journalists who have decided to stay admit being in a difficult position as there are few other media organizations available where they could apply.

Over the past 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a sprawling government-supporting press environment to boost his image and polls.

Political Timing

Whereas major media acquisitions have typically occurred either post-election or during a quiet political period, the buyout of Ringier Hungary occurs less than six months ahead of April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was considered a key objective for Orbán and his political organization at a moment when opinion research are signalling that they have a serious opponent for the first time in exceeding a decade.

Opposition Reaction

The rival candidate, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party is promoting pledges to eradicate systemic graft, has been direct about Orbán's "information apparatus" and the harm he says it has affected Hungary's democratic system.

He has questioned the Ringier Hungary deal, declaring it constitutes another effort by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's news publications.

Newspaper's Significance

While Blikk is a popular newspaper, famous for its entertainment section and dramatic titles, in the last several years it has also published many pieces on alleged corruption.

"Blikk is by far the most widely circulated daily newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," said a press expert. "Their digital platform has become surprisingly popular in recent times, becoming the fourth most popular online site in Hungary. If biased information features in such extensively consumed and popular media, it will have an effect on the citizenry."

International Perspective

For exceeding a ten-year period, Hungary has served as a model for other "semi-democratic systems" around the world.

Former American officials and their associates have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in media freedom indexes.

In 2022, Orbán spoke to a conference of US traditionalist groups that the way to governance necessitated "owning press organizations."

Past Press Regulation

In 2010, Orbán's regime passed a regulation that imposed government control over the chief communications authority and positioned the state broadcaster in the management of supporters.

Proprietorship Details

Indamedia is half-owned by Mikló Vaszily, a government-supporting investor who is also chief executive of a pro-government private channel.

In a statement, Indamedia's other co-owner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the company is acquiring a successful media company of similar size to Indamedia, with strong market positions and popular products that play a defining role in the Hungarian media landscape."

Ringier stated in a statement that its choice to divest was "based solely on business strategy factors and our concentration on our main internet businesses in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was approached for statement.