Allegations of political interference, editorial manipulation and the use of foreign propaganda narratives have emerged from former and current employees of Hungary’s public media system, according to testimonies shared in an interview with the independent online channel Partizán.
Four current and former staff members of Hungary’s public media network said they experienced sustained top-down control over news production during the past 16 years, describing a system shaped by political expectations, restricted editorial independence and centrally coordinated messaging.
The testimonies were later reported by outlets including Telex and HVG.
“Hand-controlled journalism” and alleged editorial instructions
Among those speaking were Kata Nyitrai, Eszter Dóra Nagy, Anna P. Ujvári, and István Bereznay, a senior editor at hirado.hu.
They described a working environment in which editorial decisions were frequently influenced or directly shaped by senior management, with claims of centrally issued instructions affecting what content could be published and how political topics were framed.
Bereznay said that during election campaigns, there were explicit restrictions on referencing independent media outlets critical of the government (Telex, HVG, 24.hu, 444, Átlátszó, Magyar Hang), including a requirement for prior approval before such content could be used.
He also stated that the handling of political news and agenda-setting was effectively “controlled from above”, referring to internal leadership structures within the organisation.
Several interviewees pointed to Zsolt Németh, known by the nickname “Pitbull” and serving as channel director of M1, as a key figure issuing editorial instructions. M1 is part of Hungary’s public media system operated by the MTVA group.
Claims of propaganda framing and foreign narratives
One of the most serious allegations raised in the testimonies concerns the use of narratives aligned with Russian state messaging.
Interviewees said that during certain periods, they were required to process and publish material sourced from questionable outlets, including content reflecting Russian propaganda frames, particularly in coverage related to Ukraine.
These claims suggest that some news material may have been shaped by external geopolitical narratives, although one participant noted it was unclear whether this represented direct influence or internal editorial interpretation.
“You had to report even meaningless posts”
Eszter Dóra Nagy said that during the 2020s, staff were instructed to cover Facebook posts from selected government politicians, even when they contained no clear news value.
According to her account, reporting obligations were directive-based, leaving limited editorial discretion for journalists. She added that compliance with these instructions was mandatory and closely monitored.
Bereznay István confirmed that similar expectations existed, stating that coverage of independent media was sometimes only allowed with prior approval or if it aligned with editorial objectives.
“We were told what to cover – and what not to”
Anna P. Ujvári described the system in stark terms, saying that misinformation and biased framing appeared consistently across platforms, and that public media failed to properly serve citizens or taxpayers.
She also expressed ongoing personal difficulty reconciling her role within the system, suggesting unresolved ethical concerns about her work experience.
Other participants gave more nuanced reflections, with some stating they did not experience personal moral conflict, arguing that if they had not carried out the work, someone else would have done so.
Wider context: earlier leaks and investigations
The testimonies follow previous reporting and leaked materials suggesting deeper structural issues within Hungary’s public media ecosystem.
Earlier investigations by independent outlets, including reporting by Direkt36, have alleged that government-linked officials directly influenced news production at the Hungarian News Agency and public broadcasting content, including the verbatim publication of official statements.
Additional leaks and recordings have previously raised questions about internal editorial practices and political influence over hirado.hu, including claims that critical content required approval before publication.
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Like hungary today, giving an outstanding ovation to the “last warrior” of hungary
They never have a critical point of view of the last government. Hopefully, if Magyar does something wrong, will be pointed out as well. He started wrongly with a nepotism case, and was corrected on time. Hoping the best for hungary now