Hungary Media Freedom
FILE - A headphone of a cameraman is seen in the press room during the government's press conference on Thursday, Jan 18, 2024. Polarization has created "an almost Orwellian environment" in Hungarian media, where the government weaponizes control of a majority of outlets to limit Hungarians' access to information.
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Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's election defeat in April ended a 16-year rule marked by media control and restrictions on press freedoms. Under the new government led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar, pressures on journalists have eased. Magyar's administration has taken steps to dismantle Orbán's media dominance, including suspending biased public media programming and replacing leadership. The left-leaning newspaper Népszabadság has relaunched after being shut down in 2016. While progress is evident, some journalists still press for greater government transparency.