🔗 Share this article Surprise as Government Supporters Take Over Hungary's Leading Daily Publication Media professionals at the country's most-read publication have expressed shock after a media group viewed as friendly to PM Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, purchased the popular daily from its former Swiss owners. Context of Acquisition The buyout, which comes as Hungary prepares for important elections next year, is generally viewed as another effort to strengthen state control on the media. A government-aligned media group, Indamedia, declared on Friday it had acquired a group of Hungarian publications, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a widely-read tabloid whose online platform draws around three million digital visitors monthly. Management Shake-up Blikk's outgoing top editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, stated on Monday that he and a top executive were exiting in "common understanding" with the current proprietor. They had been hired seven months ago to restructure Blikk, "focusing not on sensationalism but on engaging content" and to be "more public-oriented, covering political affairs, economics, and cultural topics," he commented on social media. Staff Responses Employees of Blikk said they were shocked. "I nearly experienced a heart attack when I was informed of the news," remarked one correspondent, who wished to be anonymous. "In my view, this is morally unacceptable." Blikk has announced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry. Media Landscape Issues Numerous reporters who have decided to stay acknowledge feeling in a difficult position as there are few other outlets left to which they could look for work. Throughout the previous 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a extensive pro-government press environment to boost his image and public opinion ratings. Election Context Whereas significant press deals have typically occurred either post-election or during a quiet political period, the purchase of Ringier Hungary comes fewer than six months before April's parliamentary election. Blikk was considered a prime target for Orbán and his political organization at a period when polls are signalling that they have a serious opponent for the first time in over a decade. Opposition Reaction The opposition leader, Péter Magyar, whose Tisza party is promoting pledges to root out systemic graft, has been direct about Orbán's "information apparatus" and the negative impact he says it has done to Hungary's democracy. He has condemned the Ringier Hungary deal, saying it signifies another move by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's media outlets. Newspaper's Importance While Blikk is a daily publication, known for its gossip column and dramatic titles, in the last several years it has also run multiple stories on suspected graft. "This newspaper stands as by far the most popular daily newspaper in Hungary, a market leader," stated a communications specialist. "Its online site has become unexpectedly successful in the past few years, becoming the fourth most read digital platform in Hungary. If biased information appears in such widely read and influential publications, it will have an impact on the public." International Perspective For more than a decade, Hungary has acted as a example for other "illiberal democracies" globally. Former American officials and their supporters have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it falls in journalistic liberty ratings. In 2022, Orbán addressed a conference of US traditionalist groups that the route to leadership necessitated "controlling media outlets." Historical Media Control In 2010, Orbán's administration enacted a regulation that established government control over the chief communications authority and put the national media outlet in the management of supporters. Proprietorship Information Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a government-supporting investor who is also chief executive of a pro-government private channel. In a announcement, Indamedia's second proprietor and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, stated: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the group is obtaining a profitable press organization of comparable scale to Indamedia, with established industry presence and recognized names that play a defining role in the Hungarian communications sector." Ringier announced in a statement that its decision to sell was "driven exclusively by business strategy factors and our focus on our core digital activities in Hungary." A official representative was sought for statement.