International mission condemns chilling effect and calls for change
An international partnership mission to Hungary from November 14th-16th, 2011 discussed the circumstances surrounding the enactment and implementation of new media legislation in Hungary. Read the key findings of the mission.
In light of intense concern and speculation over the future of press freedoms in Hungary, and deep uncertainties within the country’s community of media professionals regarding the impact of media legislation adopted in 2010, an international cohort of leading media development organisations supporting press freedoms visited Budapest from November 14th-16th, 2011.
The delegation representing Article 19, Freedom House, Index on Censorship, Independent Journalism Centre Moldova, International Press Institute, International Media Support, European Federation of Journalists, Media Diversity Institute, Open Society Media Programme, the Network for Reporting on Eastern Europe, South East Europe Media Organisation, and the South East European Network for Professionalization of Media had in-depth discussions with representatives from a wide range of media outlets and civil society groups. The mission also met with Ms. Annamária Szalai, President of the National Media and Information Communications Authority, and Dr. Zoltán Kovács, Minister of State for Government Communication.