Hungary undergoes state media reform following Orbán's departure

Following the April election of pro-European Prime Minister Péter Magyar, Hungary is undergoing a significant restructuring of its state media. The public broadcaster, MTVA, suspended its news programming on July 7 after stating it had "lied for years" under the previous 16-year administration of Viktor Orbán. While news crews continue to film, the material is currently archived without being broadcast.

Employees at MTVA report a mixture of uncertainty regarding job security and optimism about the prospect of serving the public without political agendas. Government commissioner Judit Grosz stated the suspension was necessary to address long-term issues with credibility and professionalism. News broadcasting is expected to resume around August 20, Hungary's national holiday.

The media shift has also impacted private outlets closely tied to the former government. Mediaworks, a conservative media group, announced it would lay off 200 employees after losing lucrative state advertising revenue. Additionally, several regional newspapers have ceased print publication or transitioned to weekly formats. Reporters Without Borders noted that the ultimate test of these reforms will be whether the new public media can objectively criticize the current government.