State Media Unhappy About International Attention

Michael Hedges December 2, 2019 Follow on Twitter

As a concept, public broadcasting of the European variety has vast support. Its radio and television channels, now including online platforms, have offered local entertainment, expansive cultural coverage and reliable information shielded by public funding and statutory independence. This mandate for public service media, as it is collectively identified, sets it apart from commercial, profit-oriented media that relies entirely on popular fare suited for advertising. Audiences for public and commercial channels reflect, generally, the strength of a nations social compact. It has become a bigger battle.

Recently, Brussels correspondent for Hungarian state news agency MTI Artúr Bajnok, an award winner, was called home and sacked. He was replaced by a journalistic novice, recently an assistant to a Fidesz political party member of the European Parliament (MEP) and author of anti-LGBTQ screeds. Another MTI Brussels correspondent, a 30 year veteran, was fired for asking an “unapproved question” of President Viktor Orban. In three years three Brussels correspondents have been replaced.

“The entire foreign correspondent network is being screened,” wrote daily newspaper Nepszava (November 29). MTI is a subsidiary of Duna Media Services, operator of Hungarian state media. MTI is a major copy source for government-friendly news outlets.

News inconvenient to the Orban government and his Fidesz party, such as international reaction to the electoral drubbing in October, are not to be seen or heard. Also restricted are Hungary-related news items from international human rights organizations for fear of being less than complimentary to the leaders. Even more general statements never find space; the Hungarian Association for Journalists (MUOSZ) statement on World Press Freedom Day was ignored, said media portal media1.hu (November 29).

Political control over Hungary’s state media system is well documented. At the top, political interests notwithstanding, is MTVA - Media Service Support and Asset Management Fund. It effectively owns the broadcasters, their respective frequencies and is the legal employer of all staff. The somewhat separate Duna Media Services Nonprofit (Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit) operates the four related broadcasters; Duna TV, Magyar Radio, Magyar Television and news agency MTI. Media regulator National Media and Infocommunications Authority (Nemzeti Média- és Hírközlési Hatóság - NMHH) oversees general policies and its Media Council (Mediatanacs) oversees all media policies. A policy board within the NMHH specifically for state media is the Public Service Board (Közszolgálati Testület).

All of these organizations have boards that overlap and interlock with the Fidesz political party. Duna Media Services is subject to review by several public boards, including the Public Service Board. MTVA is reviewed only by the Media Council. Under current law MTVA is not a media provider, thus not subject to European Commission state-aid procurement rules. The Media Council appoints the MTVA chief executive as well as top executives for Duna Media Services. Mertek Media Monitor (January 9) referred to it all as “a very complex and confusing institutional structure.”

MTI issued a strange statement referring to the “scandalous lies” of “the lame dog media,” in obvious reverence to pronouncements from other authoritarian rulers, reported independent news portal 24.hu (November 29). The statement complained of “a distraction from scandalous lies.” In the former, the “distraction” would be the Nepszava article about Mr. Bainok’s firing.

The later pointed to UK newspaper The Guardian for “fake international attention.” Quite clearly, that would be the widely quoted Guardian article (November 27) about MTVA withdrawing participation from the annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in favor of locally produced shows and events. In it a local TV host reportedly described the ESC as “squealing transvestites” and a “homosexual flotilla.”

“Let’s forget this disgusting, forced, propagandistic otherism festival burdened with Conchita Wurst,” said the TV anchor. Austrian drag queen Conchita Wurst won the 2014 ESC. “It’s not uncommon for EBU members to have breaks in participation,” said a statement from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), public broadcasting trade body and producer of the ESC.

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