Svobodna Dnevnik

[Hadash]

El Correo Internacional

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Keszaria: Criticism after largest liberal newspaper announces ideological shift
By: Mauricio Kovács-Tomillo
Published: Dein 2, 1583


Vízdél Korszak was considered the main nationwide non-nationalist critical voice in the country

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One of Keszaria's largest newspaper, Vízdél Korszak, has stopped publication, with journalists and the opposition alleging government pressure. Vízdél Korszak, one of the oldest newspaper in the country, it has been historically a liberal newspaper, considered close to the centrist Civic Democratic Union and Freedom Party in the past.

Last week, the management of the newspaper announced changes in the organization and cuts in their staff, firing dozens of journalists. Previously, several columnists, considered critical with the government, were announced that the collaboration with the newspaper had arrived to its end, arguing that their salaries were too high for the newspaper keeping functioning.

Journalists said it was a "coup" - they were given notice after being stopped from entering the building yesterday. The management has declared that the closure was only temporary, and that the newspaper will start to publish again in two weeks.

The government-backed newspaper Szórszágos echoes the government line that the temporary closure was purely the result of economic factors, and that it would be "an infringement of the freedom of the press, if we were to have a say in the decisions of a media owner". Vízdél Korszak was facing financial problems for years, and it was acquired by Guttmann Investment, a financial investment fund, last Septem.

While Guttmann Investment promised the old owners that the newspaper will keep functioning with some financial changes, the newspaper journalists were surprised when Jolán Haranyi, editor-in-chief since 1577, was replaced a week ago by Béla Gyarmati, a former Civic Democration Union MP, who is considered today a close political ally of President Géza Békésy.

The decision comes only a few months before the coming Senate and Presidential elections, and it is likely to have an important impact as Vízdél Korszak remained as the only nationwide newspaper which supported the liberal opposition, the rest of media divided in conservative, pro-government, neutral, and nationalist newspapers.

The liberal parties, once mainstream in Keszaria media, have seen reduced their influence to only the radio sector, as Híradó TV- the largest liberal TV in the country for years- shifted recently to more center-right positions after being acquired by a corporation owned by the Takáts family. Guttmann Investment already owns a television channel, BTV, and it therefore strengthens its position in the media industry.

Other liberal newspapers, such as Központ (1558-1580), Idö (1565-1578), and Pënzügyi Köszövár (1560-1582) also closed in recent years, as consequence of financial problems and debts. Lajos Korvath, president of the Independent Thought think thank, considered close to the Civic Democratic Union, has declared that he is concerned that the "existence of the private free media has deteriorated in the late years". The government has, however, denied any involvement, and that the private media is under free market rules as any other private sector of the economy.