🔗 Share this article

Journalists at the country's most-read publication have voiced surprise after a media conglomerate considered aligned with nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán's party, Fidesz, bought the tabloid from its earlier Swiss owners.

Timing of Acquisition

The acquisition, which coincides with Hungary prepares for crucial elections next year, is largely considered another attempt to strengthen government influence on the press.

A government-aligned media group, Indamedia, declared on Friday it had acquired a portfolio of Hungarian media assets, including Glamour magazine and Blikk, a popular daily newspaper whose news site reaches about three million web users monthly.

Leadership Shake-up

Blikk's departing top editor, Ivan Zolt Nagy, said on Monday that he and another senior manager were departing in "mutual agreement" with the acquiring company.

Their recruitment occurred seven months ago to reposition Blikk, "shifting from dramatic coverage but on interesting stories" and to be "more public-oriented, addressing politics, economics, and culture," he said on social media.

Staff Responses

Staff at Blikk said they were taken aback. "I came close to a cardiac episode when I learned about the declaration," remarked one journalist, who asked to stay unidentified. "For me, this is ethically questionable."

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

Media Landscape Concerns

Several media professionals who have chosen to remain admit being in a difficult position as there are not many other media organizations left to which they could look for work.

During the last 15 years, Orbán has been able to use a widespread government-supporting news ecosystem to boost his image and polls.

Political Context

While important publication acquisitions have tended to take place either following voting or during a quiet political period, the acquisition of Ringier Hungary happens less than six months before April's parliamentary election.

Blikk was seen as a main goal for Orbán and his political organization at a moment when opinion research are signalling that they have a serious opponent for the initial occasion in more than a decade.

Political Rival Response

The rival candidate, Péter Magyar, whose Respect and Freedom political group is campaigning on pledges to eliminate deep-seated corruption, has been outspoken about Orbán's "media machine" and the negative impact he says it has caused to Hungary's political freedom.

He has criticised the Ringier Hungary deal, saying it signifies another effort by Orbán to solidify his influence over Hungary's media outlets.

Publication's Significance

Although Blikk is a popular newspaper, known for its gossip column and sensational captions, in the past few years it has also featured many pieces on suspected graft.

"This newspaper stands as by far the most read daily newspaper in Hungary, a industry frontrunner," said a media analyst. "The web version has become surprisingly popular in recent years, becoming the fourth most read website in Hungary. If biased information features in such widely read and mainstream outlets, it will have an impact on the public."

Global Perspective

For over a ten-year period, Hungary has acted as a model for other "illiberal democracies" internationally.

Previous US leaders and their allies have frequently applauded Orbán's Hungary even as it declines in media freedom indexes.

In 2022, Orbán told a meeting of US right-leaning politicians that the path to power demanded "owning press organizations."

Historical Press Control

In 2010, Orbán's government enacted a regulation that established state authority over the main media regulator and put the national media outlet in the control of allies.

Ownership Information

Indamedia is 50% owned by Mikló Vaszily, a government-supporting investor who is also CEO of a state-aligned TV network.

In a declaration, Indamedia's second proprietor and CEO, Gábor Ziegler, commented: "Via the purchase of Ringier Hungary, the company is gaining a profitable media company of comparable scale to Indamedia, with established industry presence and recognized names that play a defining role in the Hungarian press environment."

Ringier said in a release that its decision to sell was "driven exclusively by strategic economic considerations and our concentration on our main internet businesses in Hungary."

A state communicator was approached for comment.