(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Sends Mission To Hungary Over Crisis in Public Television The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest organization of journalists, announced today that next month it is sending a mission of experts to Hungary to examine the crisis in public broadcasting. For almost two years, […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release:
IFJ Sends Mission To Hungary Over Crisis in Public Television
The International Federation of Journalists, the world’s largest
organization of journalists, announced today that next month it is sending a
mission of experts to Hungary to examine the crisis in public broadcasting.
For almost two years, there has been a political deadlock over the state
television system’s administration.
“Public broadcasting in Hungary is in trouble. The ratings for television
are down dramatically, and there is no agreement between rival political
parties over the administration of the system,” says Aidan White, General
Secretary of the IFJ.
“We shall talk to all sides and try to focus on positive solutions to the
emerging crisis. In particular, we are supporting journalists and media
staff who want to guarantee the professionalism and plurality of
broadcasting.
“The time is right to restore public confidence. It is urgent that there is
an end to all direct political involvement in the running of broadcasting,”
says the IFJ.
Earlier this month, the IFJ visited Prague during the height of the Czech
Television strike over political interference in public television. The IFJ
says that problems over broadcasting and difficulties in the creation of
independent, accountable and transparent structures exist throughout the
region. “Regrettably, even those countries closest to accession to the
European Union have not been able to fully transform public media into
genuinely professional and democratic institutions,” says the IFJ.
The IFJ, and its regional organization, the European Federation of
Journalists, carried out a mission to Hungary in 1994, following mass
firings at Hungarian Radio. “Since then, the situation of public
broadcasting has continued to be difficult and a new, equally profound
crisis is emerging,” said the IFJ.
The mission will visit Budapest from February 11-14, and will involve
meetings with broadcasting regulators, journalists’ groups, media experts
and senior politicians from all sides of the political spectrum. The members
of the Mission are:
Gustl Glattfelder, Chairman of the European Federation of Journalists,
Germany
He is also Senior Vice President of the IFJ, and has an extensive career in
broadcast journalism working for Süd West Rundfunk
Siegfried Weischenberg, President of the Deutscher Journalisten Verband,
Germany
A former journalist, professor Weischenberg now teaches at Hamburg
University, and is the head of Europe’s largest national journalists’ union.
Boris Bergant, Vice President of the European Broadcasting Union, Slovenia
A leading commentator on broadcasting affairs in Europe, Mr Bergant is also
the deputy director general of Radio Television Slovenia.
Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ, based in Belgium
Born in Ireland, White worked in the United Kingdom as a journalist before
joining the IFJ in 1987. He is an expert on international media policy.
