Exposed: How the New Foreign-Funded Support Model Works in the “Dollar Media”

A Prague-based international progressive network has launched a new funding model to bankroll selected writers and articles in Hungary’s opposition-aligned media. These writings barely disguise serving the campaign goals of the opposition. One recent example, financed by the group Free Press for Eastern Europe (FPEE), appeared on the left-leaning news site Telex. The lengthy analysis claimed that Fidesz is trailing in opinion polls, while the opposition Tisza Party is “favored to win” in next April’s elections — a narrative echoing the messaging of left-wing political pundits. In this report, we expose how the Czech-based NGO operates and how it has quietly funneled funds into Hungary’s left-wing press for years.

Forrás: Képernyőkép

 According to their website, Free Press Unlimited's (FPU) mission is to make independent news and information available to everyone. FPU supports journalists and media professionals worldwide through advocacy, emergency assistance, advice, training, capacity building, and awareness raising. 

However, the funding of individual writers and articles through Science+ lacks transparency — the identities of its donors remain shrouded in what critics call “charitable obscurity.”

It’s worth recalling that Hungary’s so-called “rolling dollars” scandal — referring to the flow of foreign money into the country’s left-wing political and media circles — revealed similar funding patterns in the past — ones that recipient outlets attempted to debunk, without much success.

In March of this year, the outlet Tenyellenor published an analysis documenting the extent of foreign financing at several opposition-linked media platforms, including 444.hu and Telex. According to Telex’s publisher, Van Masik Kft., foreign sources — including the Prague-based FPEE — had already begun funding the site by 2022, contributing roughly ten million forints across multiple payments. FPEE also appeared among the listed revenue sources for Magyar Jeti Zrt., the publisher of 444.hu.

Under the new funding model, however, there is even less transparency, making tracing the money even harder. Instead of appearing in company reports, the funds go directly toward specific articles — making oversight nearly impossible.

The Telex article cited above is a textbook case of how this new “support model” works: foreign-funded content written with clear campaign intent, masquerading as independent analysis. Far from combating disinformation or political polarization — as FPEE’s mission claims — the article serves precisely the opposite goal: to shape public perception in favor of Hungary’s opposition ahead of next year’s elections.