Posts Tagged ‘Hungary’
March 9th, 2011
The agreed changes to Hungary’s
controversial media law were
adopted on Monday. These alterations were welcomed by the Hungarian media, but have been subsequently
dismissed as merely “cosmetic” by critics. Several of the more controversial provisions have been changed, for example the “balanced reporting” requirement, which no longer applies to blogs. No changes have been made to the
Media Council, created in December 2010.
March 2nd, 2011
Budapest police have
suspended the news portal hirhatter.com. It is edited by journalist Arpad Molnar F., whose stated aim is to “expose state corruption”. The authorities claim that Molnar F. had committed the criminal offence of “displaying banned symbols of tyranny”. Accordingly, the police compelled the web operator to close the portal.
February 10th, 2011
Hungary’s largest circulation daily newspaper, Nepszabadsag, is
challenging the
controversial new
media law in the country’s Constitutional Court. The newspaper’s editor-in-chief has brought complaints about 16 areas of the law which, the paper alleges, limit press freedom and freedom of opinion. The
new regulations, introduced on 21 December 2010, allow the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) to impose substantial fines on TV and radio stations. Freedom House has described the legislation as a “
major setback for press freedom in Hungary“.
January 17th, 2011
Judit Bayer says Hungary’s new media law is a serious attack on press freedom
(more…)
December 23rd, 2010
The Hungarian parliament has passed a new law
creating a media watchdog with powers to restrict and punish private news agencies. The new body has the power to impose sanctions upon media outlets if it decides that their coverage is unbalanced or breaches the rules on coverage of sex, violence and alcohol. The Hungarian parliament is dominated by the centre right ruling party Fidesz, which will also
act as the majority in the media watchdog. Hungary is set to take EU presidency on 1 January 2011.
