Media Pluralism in the EU: Hungary far behind the other member states, closer to Turkey
The European University Institute conducted a study examining media pluralism in 28 EU Member States, Albania, and Turkey. Sadly, results indicate that in this regard, Hungary is far closer to Turkey than other EU states.
The European University Institute is an international postgraduate and post-doctoral teaching and research institute established by European Union member states to contribute to cultural and scientific development in the social sciences. Media pluralism defines the state of having a plurality of voices, opinions, and analyses on media systems or the coexistence of different and diverse types of media and media support. Many believe that media pluralism is an essential part of every democratic state.
Study
In this study, researchers used the Media Pluralism Monitor (MPM), which is a research tool designed to identify potential risks to media pluralism. Four variables were created to represent all the main areas considered to be risks to media pluralism and media freedom. These variables are (1) Basic Protection, (2) Market Plurality, (3) Political Independence, and (4) Social Inclusiveness.
Main findings
- Basic Protection: The majority of the countries included in the study scored a low risk when it comes to the Basic Protection area. Only 11 countries scored medium risk, including Hungary.
- Market Plurality: No country scored a low risk, and this area has the highest average risk among the areas. The majority of countries score a medium risk, while 13 countries score a high-risk, including Hungary.
- Political Independence: There are only 7 countries that scored a high risk: Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey.
- Social Inclusiveness: Two-thirds of the countries (22) scored a medium risk (including Hungary), 5 countries (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, and Turkey) scored a high risk, while only 3 countries (France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) scored a low risk.
Hungary’s results
Results are not shocking to anyone who has been keeping up to date with the latest news about the state of journalism in Hungary.
Hungary scored a “high risk” for both Market Plurality and Political Independence and a “medium risk” for Basic Protection and Social Inclusiveness.
The establishment of the Central European Press and Media Foundation (KESMA) had a major influence on Hungary’s high scores in Market Plurality. KESMA is basically a large number of pro-government media companies who united as one in 2018. Around 500 media titles (TV and radio channels, newspapers, tabloids, magazines, online news sites) work under the umbrella of this media giant, a merger that would not have been possible if Orbán did not change the laws for “the national interest.”
Read alsoOrbán and government’s huge media empire unites as one
State regulation of resources and support for the media sector score the highest risk (97%) not only within the Political Independence variable but also in the entire report, mainly caused by “the lack of fair rules and transparency on distribution of state advertising” in the country.
Researchers conclude that:
“… the political takeover of the media [in Hungary] is a gradual process (…) The risks were clearly visible five years ago, and they are crystallized now. What is happening in Hungary on the media landscape, can occur in every other country. It seems that formal legal mechanisms, democratic institutions and the system of checks and balances can’t protect freedom of expression, freedom of press and media pluralism if the power gained by democratic elections is large enough to make land sliding structural changes without any democratic agreement, public debate or reaction.”
For more detailed information, please read the original study by clicking here. If you are interested in Hungary’s results specifically, click here.
Source: https://cadmus.eui.eu/
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5 Comments
A világ szinte összes nemzetisége megtalálható MO _on! A Török közel 150 évig dúlta MO_t. Joguk csak a bűnözőknek van. A MAGYAR embert tűzzel_vassal irtják. A felmérés majdem igaz.
Media has since long now not been used for information or enlightening in the west.
We allready know that media in itself is biased due to the fact that the people working in media more then common is far left.
This lead too biased reporting ,media is today more used as a political movement reporting what is considered helping those left wing thoughts.
Where i live in Sweden its more than obvoius that the reporting has gone haywire and only reporting what help´s the cause.
It´s become the modern form of brainwashing for the masses.
Much like how the Nazis used their own media to calm and influence the people living in Germany in that time.
Orban and many other´s are right to cut the so called “Free media” with it´s influence from abroad.
The free media is there too change the political landscape,not too report actual facts or enlightning people.
In the UK there is no reporting on muslim rape gangs despite thousands of rapes occurring each year.
Tommy Robinson was arrested and jailed without access to his lawyer in 5 hours for reporting on one such case.
In Germany, Sweden and Fance thousands of crimes are not reported in the media. Yet every single BLM riot is covered for days.
In today’s world we get our news from citizen journalists online. This report is worthless without covering this new media!
You are correct Bruce, every BLM riot is covered for days by right-wing media. However, most of the gatherings are peaceful protests, and those are not covered by the right-wing media. In America, it’s still legal to protest the government, even under the child-king, Trump. But it is just barely legal to continue to send out right-wing “law-enforcement”(national mercenaries), hopefully things will change with this election.
Informative blog! it was very useful for me.Thanks for sharing. Do share more ideas regularly.
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