Independent Hungarian media call for restarting dialogue with the state to rebuild press freedom

In a significant move following Hungary’s historic political shift, leading organizations representing independent journalism have published proposals aimed at dismantling the Orbán-era media system and establishing a healthier framework for press freedom and media pluralism.

In April, Péter Magyar’s opposition Tisza Party secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule. The election saw record turnout and gave the new government a two-thirds constitutional majority, opening the door for sweeping democratic reforms after years of democratic backsliding, media capture, and concerns over rule of law raised by the EU and international watchdogs.

Under Orbán, Hungary experienced a systematic concentration of media ownership in pro-government hands, heavy reliance on state advertising to favor loyal outlets, and the transformation of public service broadcasters into government mouthpieces. Independent outlets faced financial pressure, regulatory hurdles, and exclusion from state resources.

Key proposals from media organizations

On 14 May, the Médiafórum Association (an alliance of independent publishers and editorial teams) released a discussion paper outlining principles and concrete recommendations for reform. The core message is clear: “There is no functioning democracy without a free media.”

Main principles proposed:

• The government should actively support press freedom while limiting its interference in media operations.
• Ensure transparency and accountability: public data must be accessible, institutions must respond to journalistic inquiries, and power must remain subject to scrutiny.
• Strengthen the framework for independent, pluralistic media independent of the state.
• Reform public service media to guarantee balanced, impartial reporting and transparent funding.

Key recommendations:

• Radical overhaul of public media and the Hungarian News Agency (MTI): Make them genuinely independent from government influence.
• Transparent state advertising: End the practice of using public funds to distort the media market and create dependencies.
• New media regulation: Establish an independent media authority, increase transparency in media ownership, and strengthen competition rules to prevent excessive concentration.
• Abolish the Sovereignty Protection Office (a body often used against independent media and NGOs).
• Independent media support fund: Create a transparent, grant-based system to support local, investigative, and public-interest journalism.

Separately, the Hungarian Journalists’ Association (MÚOSZ) has proposed establishing a new Media Fund. This would treat independent journalism as part of national culture, deserving stable public funding (potentially 6–16 billion HUF annually – approximately €16.6 – €44.3 million per year ). Funding could come from reallocating resources from the Sovereignty Protection Office or a portion of the public media budget, distributed through open competitions and expert juries.

Outlook

These initiatives represent an attempt by Hungary’s independent media sector to engage constructively with the new government. After years of confrontation and marginalisation, the organisations are seeking structured dialogue to prevent the recreation of any new propaganda machine – whether from the left or right.

The success of these efforts will be an important early test of the Magyar government’s commitment to democratic renewal. With a strong mandate and the tools to enact constitutional changes, the new administration has a rare opportunity to restore media pluralism and align Hungary more closely with European democratic standards. For international observers, developments in Hungarian media policy will serve as a key indicator of how deep and lasting the post-Orbán transformation will be.

The original article in Hungarian by EUalive’s partner Atlatszo can be found here.

Caption: AI-generated illustrative image.

• Hungary
• media freedom

Updated: May 21, 2026 - 06:56