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 environment shaped by deep political polarization ahead of the 2026 elections. Stakeholders described the ruling Fidesz party’s entrenched system of media capture, including dominance over public media, consolidation of private outlets under allied ownership, and state advertising practices that distort fair competition.

Partners also noted rising online harassment and smear campaigns against independent journalists, often amplified by pro-government outlets. The shelved but still-threatening Russia-style foreign agent bill continues to create uncertainty, while legal pressure and Hungary’s refusal to align with the European Union’s European Media Freedom Act further undermine the sector.

Unresolved Pegasus surveillance cases, recent DDoS attacks on newsrooms, and new pro-government media acquisitions underscore the shrinking space for independent reporting. Despite these pressures, Hungarian journalists remain committed to fact-based, public-interest journalism.

Read the full joint statement here.