Surprise as Government Supporters Purchase the Nation's Most-Read Newspaper
Journalists at the country's leading publication have shown disbelief after a media group considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, acquired the tabloid from its previous Swiss owners.
Timing of Purchase
The buyout, which comes as Hungary gears up for important elections next year, is widely seen as another attempt to expand state control on the press.
A government-aligned media company, Indamedia, stated on Friday it had acquired a group of Hungarian media assets, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a widely-read daily newspaper whose news site reaches about three million digital visitors monthly.
Management Shake-up
Blikk's former editor-in-chief, Ivan Zolt Nagy, stated on Monday that he and another senior manager were departing in "common understanding" with the current proprietor.
Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to revamp Blikk, "shifting from dramatic coverage but on engaging content" and to be "more audience-focused, covering politics, economics, and cultural topics," he stated on social media.
Staff Responses
Workers from Blikk admitted feeling shocked. "I nearly experienced a heart attack when I heard the news," remarked one reporter, who wished to be unnamed. "In my view, this is ethically questionable."
Blikk has named a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.
Press Environment Issues
Many journalists who have chosen to remain acknowledge feeling in a difficult position as there are few other media organizations remaining where they could seek employment.
Throughout the previous 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a sprawling state-aligned news ecosystem to strengthen his public perception and polls.
Political Context
While significant press acquisitions have usually happened either post-election or during a quiet political period, the buyout of Ringier Hungary comes less than six months prior to April's parliamentary election.
Blikk was viewed as a main goal for Orbán and his party at a period when surveys are signalling that they have a real challenger for the initial occasion in more than a decade.
Political Rival Response
The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom political group is campaigning on pledges to eliminate systemic graft, has been direct about Orbán's "media machine" and the negative impact he says it has affected Hungary's political freedom.
He has criticised the Ringier Hungary acquisition, stating it signifies another attempt by Orbán to solidify his influence over Hungary's news publications.
Newspaper's Importance
Although Blikk is a popular newspaper, renowned for its gossip column and sensational captions, in the last several years it has also published many pieces on suspected graft.
"This newspaper stands as by far the most widely circulated newspaper in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," stated a communications specialist. "Its online site has become unexpectedly successful in the past few years, becoming the fourth most visited online site in Hungary. If propaganda is published by such extensively consumed and mainstream outlets, it will have an influence on the citizenry."
International Perspective
For over a decade now, Hungary has functioned as a model for other "semi-democratic systems" internationally.
Ex-US administrators and their supporters have consistently commended Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in media freedom indexes.
In 2022, Orbán told a conference of US right-leaning politicians that the way to governance required "having their own media."
Historical Media Regulation
In 2010, Orbán's administration passed a legislation that asserted state authority over the primary press oversight body and put the public broadcaster in the hands of allies.
Proprietorship Information
Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a state-aligned businessman who is also top executive of a state-aligned TV network.
In a announcement, Indamedia's other co-owner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, said: "Through the acquisition of Ringier Hungary, the company is acquiring a well-performing press organization of similar size to Indamedia, with solid commercial standing and popular products that play a defining role in the Hungarian press environment."
Ringier said in a release that its choice to divest was "motivated entirely by commercial planning elements and our focus on our core digital activities in Hungary."
A state communicator was sought for response.
