Disbelief as Government Supporters Acquire the Nation's Most-Read Newspaper

Reporters at the country's most-read newspaper have expressed shock after a media group seen as close to PM Viktor Orbán's political faction, Fidesz, bought the popular daily from its former Swiss owners.

Context of Purchase

The buyout, which occurs while Hungary prepares for crucial elections next year, is widely seen as another effort to strengthen state control on the media.

A pro-Orbán media group, Indamedia, stated on Friday it had bought a group of Hungarian titles, including the fashion publication and Blikk, a popular daily newspaper whose news site draws around three million online readers monthly.

Leadership Changes

Blikk's former top editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, announced on Monday that he and another senior manager were exiting in "common understanding" with the new owner.

They had been hired seven months ago to revamp Blikk, "moving away from sensational stories but on interesting stories" and to be "more public-oriented, reporting on political affairs, economic matters, and cultural topics," he commented on Facebook.

Staff Reactions

Staff at Blikk said they were shocked. "I nearly experienced a medical emergency when I learned about the news," stated one reporter, who requested to remain unnamed. "Personally, this is morally unacceptable."

Blikk has introduced a fresh chief editor, Baláz Kolossváry.

Media Landscape Issues

Several media professionals who have chosen to remain say they are in a difficult position as there are limited other publications available where they could look for work.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a extensive government-supporting news ecosystem to enhance his reputation and poll numbers.

Political Context

While major media acquisitions have tended to take place either following voting or during a stable political time, the buyout of Ringier Hungary happens less than six months ahead of April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was seen as a prime target for Orbán and his party at a time when opinion research are indicating that they have a real challenger for the premier instance in more than a decade.

Opposition Reaction

The rival candidate, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom party is promoting pledges to eradicate deep-seated corruption, has been vocal about Orbán's "media machine" and the harm he claims it has caused to Hungary's democracy.

He has questioned the Ringier Hungary acquisition, saying it constitutes another move by Orbán to cement his control over Hungary's news publications.

Publication's Importance

While Blikk is a tabloid, famous for its entertainment section and over-the-top headlines, in the last several years it has also featured multiple stories on alleged corruption.

"Blikk is by far the most popular newspaper in Hungary, a sector dominator," stated a communications specialist. "Their digital platform has become unexpectedly successful in recent years, becoming the fourth most popular online site in Hungary. If biased information is published by such widely read and popular media, it will have an effect on the public."

International Perspective

For more than a decade now, Hungary has acted as a blueprint for other "authoritarian-leaning governments" around the world.

Ex-US administrators and their associates have long praised Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in press freedom rankings.

In 2022, Orbán told a gathering of US right-leaning politicians that the route to leadership demanded "owning press organizations."

Past Press Regulation

In 2010, Orbán's regime approved a regulation that imposed state authority over the chief communications authority and positioned the public broadcaster in the management of loyalists.

Ownership Information

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

In a statement, Indamedia's additional partner and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the organization is obtaining a profitable publication group of similar size to Indamedia, with established industry presence and recognized names that have significant influence in the Hungarian media landscape."

Ringier announced in a statement that its determination to transfer was "motivated entirely by commercial planning elements and our emphasis on our core digital activities in Hungary."

A government spokesperson was contacted for response.