Surprise as Government Supporters Take Over the Nation's Most-Read Newspaper
Reporters at the country's most popular newspaper have expressed shock after a media conglomerate considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, bought the popular daily from its previous Swiss owners.
Timing of Acquisition
The purchase, which coincides with Hungary gears up for crucial elections next year, is largely considered another attempt to increase state control on the news outlets.
A pro-Orbán media company, Indamedia, declared on Friday it had bought a group of Hungarian media assets, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a influential daily newspaper whose news site draws around three million digital visitors monthly.
Leadership Changes
Blikk's departing editor-in-chief, Ivan Zolt Nagy, announced on Monday that he and another senior manager were departing in "shared decision" with the new owner.
Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to reposition Blikk, "moving away from sensational stories but on interesting stories" and to be "more public-oriented, addressing politics, economics, and cultural topics," he said on Facebook.
Staff Responses
Staff at Blikk said they were taken aback. "I almost had a heart attack when I learned about the news," said one reporter, who requested to remain unnamed. "In my view, this is professionally concerning."
Blikk has introduced a new editor-in-chief, Baláz Kolossváry.
Press Environment Concerns
Several media professionals who have chosen to remain admit being in a difficult position as there are not many other media organizations left to which they could apply.
Throughout the previous 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a widespread government-supporting media landscape to enhance his reputation and public opinion ratings.
Political Timing
While major media acquisitions have usually happened either after elections or during a quiet political period, the purchase of Ringier Hungary comes under six months before April's national vote.
Blikk was seen as a prime target for Orbán and his party at a time when polls are signalling that they have a real challenger for the premier instance in more than a decade.
Opposition Reaction
The political challenger, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza political group is running on promises to eradicate entrenched dishonesty, has been outspoken about Orbán's "media machine" and the damage he claims it has caused to Hungary's democracy.
He has condemned the Ringier Hungary transaction, declaring it signifies another effort by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's media outlets.
Publication's Importance
Though Blikk is a tabloid, renowned for its entertainment section and dramatic titles, in the recent years it has also published multiple stories on alleged corruption.
"Blikk is by far the most popular newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," said a media analyst. "The web version has become unexpectedly successful in the past few years, becoming the fourth most read digital platform in Hungary. If biased information appears in such extensively consumed and popular media, it will have an influence on the public."
Global Perspective
For more than a decade now, Hungary has acted as a model for other "authoritarian-leaning governments" globally.
Ex-US administrators and their associates have consistently commended Orbán's Hungary even as it falls in journalistic liberty ratings.
In 2022, Orbán told a conference of US conservatives that the path to power necessitated "owning press organizations."
Historical Media Control
In 2010, Orbán's regime enacted a law that established official oversight over the chief communications authority and positioned the national media outlet in the control of supporters.
Proprietorship Details
Indamedia is partially controlled by MiklĂł Vaszily, a government-supporting entrepreneur who is also CEO of a government-friendly television station.
In a announcement, Indamedia's additional partner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, said: "By obtaining of Ringier Hungary, the company is obtaining a successful publication group of comparable scale to Indamedia, with solid commercial standing and recognized names that play a defining role in the Hungarian press environment."
Ringier stated in a communication that its choice to divest was "based solely on strategic economic considerations and our concentration on our core digital activities in Hungary."
A official representative was contacted for comment.