The twilight of free media in Hungary

The erosion of democratic standards in the media system by the Fidesz Party

Abstrakt

This article aims to analyse the erosion of independent media in Hungary since the Fidesz party came to power. The activities of free and independent media have been systematically curtailed since 2010, when Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party assumed office. Over the past 15 years, the Hungarian media landscape has undergone significant transformations, primarily due to the redistribution of media resources—including decision-making positions, ownership structures, commercial radio licences, and state advertising—as well as the merger of nearly 500 outlets in 2018 (Euromedia Ownership Monitor, 2022). Research value: the author not only outlines the methods through which the media have been captured and aligned with pro-government narratives, but also examines the impact of these developments on Hungary’s position in global rankings. Concepts and methods: The situation is illustrated using data from sources such as Freedom in the World, the Press Freedom Index, the Media Pluralism Monitor, and the Democracy Index. In preparing this article, the author consulted a range of academic and analytical publications, including The Illiberal Public Sphere: Media in Polarised Societies, Hungary: A Lesson in Media Control, and Disinformation Under the Guise of Democracy: Lessons from Hungary, among others.