🔗 Share this article

Media professionals at Hungary's most popular publication have shown disbelief after a media conglomerate considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, bought the tabloid from its previous Swiss owners.

Context of Purchase

The buyout, which comes as Hungary gears up for crucial elections next year, is largely considered another effort to strengthen state control on the press.

A pro-Orbán media group, Indamedia, announced on Friday it had acquired a portfolio of Hungarian publications, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a widely-read daily newspaper whose news site draws around three million online readers monthly.

Management Changes

Blikk's former editor-in-chief, Ivan Zolt Nagy, stated on Monday that he and another senior manager were leaving in "shared decision" with the new owner.

Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to restructure Blikk, "shifting from dramatic coverage but on engaging content" and to be "more audience-focused, addressing politics, economic matters, and cultural topics," he commented on Facebook.

Employee Reactions

Workers from Blikk admitted feeling taken aback. "I almost had a heart attack when I was informed of the announcement," said one reporter, who wished to be anonymous. "Personally, this is ethically questionable."

Blikk has announced a new editor-in-chief, Baláz Kolossváry.

Press Environment Concerns

Numerous reporters who have chosen to remain acknowledge feeling in a challenging situation as there are limited other media organizations left to which they could apply.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a extensive pro-government press environment to strengthen his public perception and public opinion ratings.

Political Timing

While important publication deals have usually happened either after elections or during a quiet political period, the buyout of Ringier Hungary happens fewer than six months prior to April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was seen as a key objective for Orbán and his political organization at a time when surveys are suggesting that they have a genuine competitor for the initial occasion in exceeding a decade.

Opposition Response

The political challenger, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party is promoting promises to root out deep-seated corruption, has been outspoken about Orbán's "media machine" and the negative impact he asserts it has affected Hungary's political freedom.

He has questioned the Ringier Hungary acquisition, declaring it constitutes another attempt by Orbán to strengthen his grip over Hungary's news publications.

Publication's Significance

Although Blikk is a daily publication, renowned for its entertainment section and over-the-top headlines, in the last several years it has also published numerous articles on alleged corruption.

"This newspaper stands as by far the most read newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," commented a media analyst. "Their digital platform has become remarkably well-received in recent times, becoming the fourth most read digital platform in Hungary. If biased information appears in such extensively consumed and popular media, it will have an effect on the general population."

International Context

For more than a ten-year period, Hungary has served as a blueprint for other "illiberal democracies" around the world.

Ex-US administrators and their associates have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it plunges in media freedom indexes.

In 2022, Orbán addressed a conference of US traditionalist groups that the route to leadership necessitated "owning press organizations."

Past Press Regulation

In 2010, Orbán's government passed a regulation that imposed state authority over the primary press oversight body and put the public broadcaster in the hands of loyalists.

Ownership Details

Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a government-supporting investor who is also top executive of a pro-government private channel.

In a declaration, Indamedia's additional partner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, stated: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the company is obtaining a profitable press organization of similar size to Indamedia, with solid commercial standing and successful brands that serve a crucial function in the Hungarian communications sector."

Ringier announced in a statement that its decision to sell was "motivated entirely by commercial planning elements and our focus on our main internet businesses in Hungary."

A official representative was approached for comment.