The political machine is able to seize, or keep on a short leash, the media, by taking over its professionals and destroying the profession’s reputation. With these called into question, the audience is forced to search for a must trustworthy source for their news.”

The following piece was published in the August 11, 2016, edition of Heti Válasz (pg. 9), and was written by Gábor Borókai.

Several weeks ago, the left-wing media criticized a TV2 reporter, perhaps not unjustly, accusing her of performing character assassination propaganda. The commercial television station slammed down municipal councilman Péter Juhász like a mad cow falling on its calf. The reporter scripted the piece as if it were something from a soap opera, but it backfired. It backfired in part because the councilman did not respond as a victim, instead, he countered. The reporter overstepped her professional boundaries and only a blind person could not see the malicious intent of the piece.

The issue developed into a huge scandal because it overtook the more important issue of cleaning up politics, specifically Juhász’s calls for Viktor Orbán to account for his wealth, by inferring that Juhász himself is unable to account for his income and expenses. That is, how is it that Juhász, who makes more than the average Hungarian, can supplement his income with untraceable donations and live in luxury apartment that obviously exceeds his means. If frugalness and transparency are not virtues for Juhász, why does he demand these same virtues from others?

The incident also begs the question of why it is that TV2’s new management uses a club to clean a speck of dust off a window.

The Juhász story is but a drop in the Hungarian sea. It clearly shows that to be a politician and journalist in Hungary requires not only grit, but also preparedness and moderation. But it also shows that the media – contrary to all accounts – is a much more delicate system than a huge pipeline capable of changing the opinions of those whose ears are on the other end, even if there is a well-articulated message being shouted into it.

The Juhász story also showed us how the political machine are able to seize, or keep on a short leash, the media, by taking over its professionals and destroying the profession’s reputation. With these called into question, the audience is forced to search for a must trustworthy source for their news.

Recently, the rightwing or middle-class media has become the hand maiden of politics. This, of course, leads us to conclude that the politicians are very aware of what they demand of the media.

The problem, therefore, is that decisions made in the media are not measured against a more livable, better working country, but winning or losing elections. Furthermore, a large portion of the media is seeking to stay in the good graces of politics instead of serving those who consume media. As a consequence, media spins the news, certain issues or personalities are blacklisted, and it refrains from clashing opposing views and criticisms.

The media, from this point of view, is not an autonomous entity, it is a political tool. It makes announcements, amplifies, and corroborates. If it must deal with enemies, its only goal is to weaken — and for this it can utilize all tools and methods. Just as the Juhász case shows.

This system is effective, just as everything that is centrally-commanded. It tramples all opposition, crashing forward like a bulldozer. But it is also self-destructive and dangerous to the public because it buries all barriers beneath it, including the barriers that would protect it and its owners from the very same actions that it employs.

The idea of middle class life has proceeded well beyond its struggles and embattled years. It is cemented into place and undeniable, has been widely institutionalized, and its media is considerable. It might consider replacing the focal point of its message from the fight to survive, to dealing with everything according to its place. It could keep the M4 sport channel separate from politics. It could let the media do its job of reporting, not just from the top down, but also from the bottom up.

Perhaps, when all is said and done, the media, too, could be part of the middle class Hungary.

Source: budapestsentinel.com

Republished with permission