Shock as Orbán Allies Acquire the Nation's Most-Read Newspaper
Reporters at Hungary's most popular newspaper have expressed shock after a media conglomerate considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, bought the tabloid from its former Swiss owners.
Timing of Acquisition
The acquisition, which occurs while Hungary approaches pivotal elections next year, is widely seen as another effort to increase government influence on the media.
A Fidesz-friendly media company, Indamedia, declared on Friday it had acquired a collection of Hungarian media assets, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a influential daily newspaper whose online platform draws around three million web users monthly.
Leadership Shake-up
Blikk's departing chief editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, announced on Monday that he and a top executive were leaving in "shared decision" with the current proprietor.
They were appointed seven months ago to restructure Blikk, "focusing not on sensationalism but on engaging content" and to be "more audience-focused, addressing politics, economics, and culture," he commented on Facebook.
Employee Reactions
Employees of Blikk said they were stunned. "I nearly experienced a cardiac episode when I was informed of the news," remarked one journalist, who wished to be anonymous. "In my view, this is morally unacceptable."
Blikk has announced a new editor-in-chief, Baláz Kolossváry.
Press Environment Issues
Many journalists who have decided to stay say they are in a complex circumstance as there are not many other publications left to which they could apply.
During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a sprawling pro-government media landscape to strengthen his public perception and public opinion ratings.
Election Context
While major media acquisitions have tended to take place either post-election or during a stable political time, the acquisition of Ringier Hungary occurs under six months ahead of April's general election.
Blikk was seen as a main goal for Orbán and his political organization at a moment when polls are signalling that they have a real challenger for the initial occasion in more than a decade.
Opposition Response
The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza political group is campaigning on promises to eradicate deep-seated corruption, has been vocal about Orbán's "information apparatus" and the negative impact he claims it has done to Hungary's political freedom.
He has criticised the Ringier Hungary acquisition, saying it represents another effort by Orbán to strengthen his grip over Hungary's press organizations.
Newspaper's Significance
Though Blikk is a daily publication, famous for its gossip column and over-the-top headlines, in the recent years it has also published multiple stories on alleged corruption.
"This newspaper stands as by far the most widely circulated newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," said a media analyst. "Its online site has become remarkably well-received in the past few years, becoming the fourth most visited digital platform in Hungary. If biased information appears in such widely read and mainstream outlets, it will have an effect on the public."
Global Context
For more than a ten-year period, Hungary has served as a model for other "authoritarian-leaning governments" globally.
Previous US leaders and their allies have consistently commended Orbán's Hungary even as it falls in media freedom indexes.
In 2022, Orbán spoke to a gathering of US traditionalist groups that the route to leadership demanded "having their own media."
Past Press Regulation
In 2010, Orbán's administration passed a regulation that established state authority 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 government-supporting businessman who is also top executive of a government-friendly television station.
In a declaration, Indamedia's other co-owner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "By obtaining of Ringier Hungary, the company is obtaining a profitable media company of equivalent magnitude to Indamedia, with established industry presence and successful brands that have significant influence in the Hungarian communications sector."
Ringier announced in a communication that its decision to sell was "driven exclusively by strategic economic considerations and our concentration on our main internet businesses in Hungary."
A official representative was approached for comment.
