Media Outlets Increasingly Critical of Hungarian Government, Survey Finds
The Nézőpont Institute has released its 2024 Press Freedom report on Hungary, revealing that the number of media outlets taking a critical stance on the government has been steadily increasing since 2010.
According to the report, there are now 61 domestic media outlets opposed to the government, compared to 36 in 2010. Additionally, 34 critical websites have been established in the past decade.
Contrary to popular belief, the think-tank stated that press freedom is not under attack in Hungary. Out of 15 print media, 7 are critical of the government while 8 support it. In terms of electronic media, 12 out of 33 are opposed to the government and 21 are friendly. When it comes to online platforms, 37 out of 53 are against the government, while 16 are for it.
The report also highlighted that 71 percent of the adult population in Hungary gets their information from sources critical of the government, while 64 percent rely on pro-government sources. However, the proportion of those who only consume information from one type of media is low.
Media accessibility is widespread throughout the country, regardless of political affiliation. Printed dailies and weeklies are distributed nationally, and major electronic media outlets have national coverage.
With over 8 million people having access to TV channels, almost 93 percent of households having broadband, and 14 million mobile phone subscriptions in a country with a population of just under 10 million, Hungary has a strong media landscape that allows for diverse sources of information for its citizens.
