CPJ, partners highlight escalating press freedom threats in Hungary
The Committee to Protect Journalists and partner organizations expressed strong support on Thursday for independent journalists in Hungary and highlighted the country’s escalating media freedom crisis following a one-day mission to Budapest on October 22. In meetings with journalists, media representatives, legal experts, and civil society, the delegation heard concerns about a severely restricted media…
Hungary’s Russian-style ‘foreign agent’ bill threatens remaining independent media
Brussels, May 15, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on European Union leaders to unequivocally and immediately condemn Hungary’s proposed “foreign agent” law, which would grant its government sweeping powers to impose restrictions on NGOs, independent media outlets and other organizations receiving foreign funding. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party introduced the bill on Tuesday in Parliament…
Hungary’s independent media struggle against economic pressure, intimidation
“This is a new wave of clampdowns by the government–they want to have another four-year term with even less critical media than before,” said Szabolcs, a 21-year-old economics student, one of thousands of people who marched in the streets of Budapest in June, chanting “Free Country, Free Press!” The demonstrations were in reaction to several…
Hello, I’m Robert Capa, may I take a picture?
How would Robert Capa and Joe Pulitzer have reacted to the law that came into force on March 15 in their country of birth, Hungary? Let us guess that they would have been stunned. A provision in the new Hungarian civil code forbids taking pictures without the permission of everyone in the photograph.
Criticism of Hungary’s media controls keeps growing
“Klubrádió solely wants to provide news and present different opinions and never meant to play any emblematic role. But, because of the decision of the Media Authority, it has became the symbol of free speech in Hungary,” stated the broadcaster’s CEO, András Arató, on Sunday when addressing thousands of demonstrators who gathered in central Budapest…