Hungary’s public news back on the air after Magyar vows reforms

On Thursday, Hungary’s state TV resumed airing its news bulletin, marking the end of a suspension that had begun when Peter Magyar’s government launched reforms to restore public media’s independence. The new government sought to address concerns over the press, which had been a significant focus under the previous administration led by Viktor Orban.

Control of the media was instrumental in Orban’s 16-year rule, shaping Hungary into an illiberal democracy before he was defeated in April’s election. Magyar, a pro-European conservative, promised to overhaul public media as part of his campaign. The main public TV channel, M1, had suspended all news programs on July 7 as the reforms commenced. After a brief suspension, M1 aired its first news bulletin at 6:00 local time, on Hungary's national day.

The 25-minute bulletin opened with a report on Hungary’s new president, András Békási, a critic of Orban and former Supreme Court head. The bulletin featured a balanced coverage, including opposition and critical voices, indicating a shift away from practices during Orban’s era. Journalists have previously grappled with their roles under Orban and how to regain public trust.

Public Media Group Kozmedia, now known as MTVA, released a statement on Facebook stating that no individuals involved in editing the news bulletins under Orban were part of the current team. However, several employees told AFP that while some anchors and reporters had been let go, staffing levels remained largely unchanged. On Wednesday, Telex reported that many of the same editors and reporters who had previously produced propaganda still held their positions, citing an internal email received by an insider.

The current transition period is overseen by a government-appointed interim leadership, which has initiated internal audits and restructuring efforts. Earlier this month, M1 faced criticism after appointing a new head of news programming who had previously worked for media outlets and companies owned by Orban’s inner circle. Following backlash, including from Magyar, the broadcaster reversed the decision, leading to further criticism over government interference.

Reforms are anticipated to continue, with a new chief executive expected to be selected through an open tender process before the end of October to implement recommendations from ongoing professional and public consultations.