Massive media conglomerate created on the Right
Saturday, December 1st, 2018Liberal commentators think that the centralization of pro-government media outlets will further strengthen the government’s dominance over public opinion. READ MORE
Dispute over US Ambassador’s comments
Saturday, September 8th, 2018A Hungarian-American liberal commentator lambasts the new US Ambassador to Budapest for ignoring what he sees as the decline of democratic norms in Hungary. His pro-government counterpart welcomes Mr Cornstein’s words. READ MORE
Mainstream media accused of bias
Tuesday, September 4th, 2018A conservative commentator suggests that mainstream parties play into the hands of extremist parties by ignoring people’s fears of immigration, and by dismissing critics of immigration as neo-Nazis. READ MORE
The dream to relaunch of Radio Free Europe – a critical view
Saturday, August 18th, 2018A left-wing sociologist criticises those liberal intellectuals who are urging the United States to relaunch broadcasts by Radio Free Europe in Hungarian. He calls their idea an expression of political parochialism. READ MORE
Fidesz dominates the media landscape
Monday, August 6th, 2018After the ‘recapture’ of HírTV’ by the government side, left-wing commentators paint a bleak picture of the Hungarian media landscape, while a pro-government author lays the blame at the door of the tycoon who lured conservative journalists into his anti-Orbán offensive and then left them in the lurch. READ MORE
More on HirTV takeover
Saturday, August 4th, 2018A left-wing analyst believes the government side was led by an emotional need to recapture HírTV from its critics, while a pro-government commentator excoriates the left-liberal demonstrators who protested against the takeover. READ MORE
HírTV back in the government fold
Friday, August 3rd, 2018Left-wing commentators see the takeover of Hungary’s first TV news channel as a sign of mounting authoritarianism, while pro-government newspapers declare that justice has been done. READ MORE
Simicska sells his businesses
Monday, July 9th, 2018A left-wing pundit describes the former Fidesz party treasurer as an emblematic figure of Hungary’s recent past. He suspects that his media empire may end up in pro-government hands. READ MORE
Heti Válasz shuts down
Friday, June 8th, 2018The highest circulation conservative weekly owned by the media mogul Lajos Simicska closes down after announcing insolvency. The editor ascribes the failure of his weekly to the hostile political environment. READ MORE
Magyar Nemzet shuts down
Thursday, April 12th, 2018As media tycoon Lajos Simicska withdraws from several important outlets, commentators complain that a piece of Hungarian history is disappearing with the daily Magyar Nemzet – unless a political investor manages to save it. READ MORE