Népszava in trouble

Népszava claims to be the only national daily that has increased its readership over the past year. It is in dire financial straits, nonetheless, but promises its readers it will survive. READ MORE

Under friendly fire

Left wing commentators welcome the unequivocal warnings addressed to the Hungarian government by various Western sources, while right wing analysts deem accusations of anti-democratic tendencies directed at Hungarian leaders unfair. READ MORE

The False, the Rude and the Ugly: an episode in US – Hungarian relations

A moderately conservative opinion page carries an unusually angry commentary on US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas O. Melia’s criticism of the direction public affairs are taking in Hungary.

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Media-bloodbath?

In the first right-wing press reaction to the latest job cuts in public-service media, the editor-in-chief of Magyar Hírlap warns left-wing critics that each time their own friends took over the reins of power for the past 17 years, an ideologically-motivated media purge followed. READ MORE

Controversy over media job-cuts

The decision to axe 550 jobs at four public service media is criticised as an act of ‘political cleansing’, while decision-makers say it was necessary in order to streamline the system. READ MORE

Looking back at Hungary’s EU presidency

Regardless of their political affiliations, commentators appreciate the diplomatic performance of Hungary during the six months of the EU presidency, but this professional success story does not silence the usual controversies over the government’s democratic legitimacy. READ MORE

Clinton and Rice in Budapest

Striking differences were apparent in the press coverage of the visits of two US Secretaries of State to Budapest. Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice came to unveil the monument to Ronald Reagan, while her successor, Hillary Clinton spoke at the opening ceremony of the Tom Lantos Institute. READ MORE

Tilting at windmills

Though the initial hysteria about the new Hungarian media law has long subsided, fearmongers still maintain that free speech in Hungary is threatened by what they see as a far-right government, András Stumpf reports from a Bonn conference. READ MORE

The wavering voice of the left

The owner of Klub Radio is confident that his left-wing news and current affairs station will survive. As well as raising money from supporters, the station is gathering grass-roots support for its efforts to keep its frequency.

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