Hungarian Public Media Calls for Solidarity with Polish Counterparts

Hungarian public media stands by independent Polish public media, emphasized the two heads of Hungary's public media, Daniel Papp, CEO of the Media Services Support and Asset Management Fund (MTVA) and Anita Altorjai, CEO of Duna Media Provider Zrt (Duna Media), in a letter sent to European Broadcasting Union (EBU) leaders.

Brüsszel, 2023. március 21. Papp Dániel, az MTVA vezérigazgatója, Altorjai Anita, a Duna Médiaszolgáltató Nonprofit Zrt. vezérigazgatója és Kovács Tamás Iván, Magyarország Belgiumba és Luxemburgba akkreditált rendkívüli és meghatalmazott nagykövete (b-j) a Médiaszolgáltatás-támogató és Vagyonkezelõ Alap (MTVA) brüsszeli képviseleti irodájának ünnepélyes megnyitásán 2023. március 21-én. MTI/Balogh Zoltán Fotó: Balogh Zoltán

They pointed out that the EBU's own definition of public service media is that they are impartial, independent and serve the benefit of society as a whole. Well funded and strong public media are the cornerstone of democratic societies.

This is now also being undermined by the Polish government's decisions, which are harming the Polish public media and, through them, Polish society, they said. They called on EBU leaders to use all the means at their disposal to defend the independence of public media in the country.

The letter adds that this was necessary because EBU and its members share a common belief that public service media should strive to deliver their educational, information and entertainment functions to the widest possible audience at the highest possible standards and level of moral integrity, based on the same principles of universality, independence, excellence, diversity, accountability and innovation. This is also stated in point 1.2 of the EBU's Statutes, the letter writers noted.

They, therefore, call on EBU leaders to draw the attention of all members to the opportunity and importance of a common stand to express their disagreement with the direct attack on the independence of Polish public media, and by extension on that of European public media, and to condemn open political interference in the independence of the Polish provider.

In addition, as members of the EBU's largest regional group, Hungarian public media leaders have expressed their willingness to assist the Polish government should it require expert legal advice.

The Hungarian public media stands by the independent Polish public media, condemns the illegal measures taken and calls on EBU to openly take a stand, as it has in previous cases, and deal with the matter in a substantive manner, in line with the seriousness of the acts committed, they wrote.

Cover photo: Daniel Papp, CEO of MTVA and Anita Altorjai, CEO of Duna Media Provider Nonprofit Zrt. (Photo: MTI/ Zoltan Balogh)