🔗 Share this article

Media professionals at the country's leading publication have voiced surprise after a media group seen as close to nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's political faction, Fidesz, bought the popular daily from its previous Swiss owners.

Timing of Acquisition

The purchase, which coincides with Hungary approaches crucial elections next year, is widely seen as another move to increase government influence on the media.

A government-aligned media group, Indamedia, announced on Friday it had acquired a group of Hungarian titles, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a popular tabloid whose digital edition attracts approximately three million online readers monthly.

Management Changes

Blikk's departing top editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, said on Monday that he and another senior manager were departing in "shared decision" with the acquiring company.

Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to reposition Blikk, "moving away from sensational stories but on interesting stories" and to be "more reader-centered, reporting on political affairs, economics, and culture," he commented on Facebook.

Staff Reactions

Staff at Blikk expressed being shocked. "I nearly experienced a cardiac episode when I heard the declaration," said one correspondent, who wished to be unnamed. "Personally, this is morally unacceptable."

Blikk has announced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Press Environment Issues

Many journalists who have opted to continue acknowledge feeling in a complex circumstance as there are not many other outlets available where they could look for work.

Over the past 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a sprawling pro-government media landscape to boost his image and poll numbers.

Political Timing

Although major media transactions have tended to take place either after elections or during a calm political phase, the buyout of Ringier Hungary happens fewer than six months prior to April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was considered a key objective for Orbán and his political organization at a period when surveys are signalling that they have a real challenger for the first time in more than a decade.

Political Rival Reaction

The rival candidate, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza political group is promoting promises to eradicate entrenched dishonesty, has been outspoken about Orbán's "propaganda factory" and the negative impact he claims it has affected Hungary's democracy.

He has condemned the Ringier Hungary transaction, saying it constitutes another effort by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's news publications.

Newspaper's Importance

Though Blikk is a daily publication, famous for its gossip column and dramatic titles, in the recent years it has also featured many pieces on possible misconduct.

"This newspaper stands as by far the most read daily newspaper in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," said a media analyst. "Their digital platform has become remarkably well-received in recent times, becoming the fourth most popular website in Hungary. If propaganda appears in such highly popular and mainstream outlets, it will have an influence on the citizenry."

International Perspective

For exceeding a ten-year period, Hungary has acted as a example for other "semi-democratic systems" globally.

Ex-US administrators and their allies have frequently applauded Orbán's Hungary even as it plunges in press freedom rankings.

In 2022, Orbán addressed a gathering of US traditionalist groups that the route to leadership demanded "having their own media."

Past Media Regulation

In 2010, Orbán's government passed a regulation that imposed government control over the main media regulator and placed the national media outlet in the hands of supporters.

Proprietorship Information

Indamedia is half-owned by Mikló Vaszily, a pro-government businessman who is also top executive of a pro-government private channel.

In a announcement, Indamedia's additional partner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the organization is gaining a profitable publication group of comparable scale to Indamedia, with strong market positions and recognized names that serve a crucial function in the Hungarian communications sector."

Ringier said in a communication that its decision to sell was "motivated entirely by strategic economic considerations and our concentration on our main internet businesses in Hungary."

A state communicator was contacted for comment.