Népszabadság
Encyclopedia
Népszabadság is a major left-leaning Hungarian newspaper, founded in 1956 as successor of "Szabad Nép" (The Free People), the central organ of the dissolved Hungarian Working People's Party. "Népszabadság" literally means "People's Freedom", and is a reference to the paper's communist roots: it was the mouthpiece of the communist Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party
until 1989 and is often considered as supportive to the present Hungarian Socialist Party
(MSZP). In 1989, Népszabadság broke away from the HSWP and became independent.
This newspaper is mostly owned by foreign media interests (the Swiss publishing house Ringier) although the Szabad Sajtó foundation, created by the MSZP party, owns 26.7% of Népszabadság's shares.
The paper is close to the MSZP and Alliance of Free Democrats
(SZDSZ) parties and its editorials often supported, though with frequency also criticized the former socialist-liberal government. Its editorials sometimes speak out against the conservative Fidesz
party. On international agenda it is usually supportive of the EU and US policies, rare criticism includes U.S. President George W. Bush
's "democracy export" initiative. Népszabadság follows the US in calling certain countries rogue states or part of the axis of evil
and is somewhat critical of Arab countries, both on political and human rights grounds. Népszabadság supports a cautiously pragmatical approach to relations with Vladimir Putin
's Russia
, based on realities of the Hungarian and EU energy import structure.
up until very recently, but has been overtaken by Blikk, a tabloid newspaper and Metropol, the free newspaper. As most political daily newspapers worldwide (in developed countries and also in Hungary), the circulation of Népszabadság is declining. The following circulation numbers are based on audited data:
These numbers are given by the Hungarian Audit Bureau (Matesz) at http://www.matesz.hu/data/#mainpart_2.
. The letter, later proved to be a fake, pretended to be from the Hungarian-born physicist appeared in Népszabadság shortly after his death, claiming to express dissatisfaction with antisemitism and anti-US sentiments in the opposition Fidesz party. The letter turned out to be fabricated by the retired journalist László Zeley, Teller's Hungarian editor. Then editor-in-chief of Népszabadság, Pál Eötvös refused to resign under pressure and later became the president of The Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ).
Another scandal occurred in October 2007, when Népszabadság Online reported in a rather unprofessionally worded piece of breaking news the sudden death of Mr. Gyula Horn
, the country's ex-premier and a veteran leader of the Hungarian socialists. Minutes later the editors had to recall the news item and publish a similarly silly announcement apologizing for the false news of death. It turned out that one of the deputies of the editor in chief, Mr. Ervin Tamas phoned his double on duty, Mr. Csaba Nagy, and informed him of Mr. Horn's death. Mr. Nagy, without delay ordered the editor on duty of Népszabadság Online, Mr. Oszkár Füzes to word a short news item and publish it immediately on the newspaper's site. Although Mr. Vörös also confirmed the news to Mr. Nagy, the next day, when the Hungarian media spoke of "the new Teller-story", the chief editor was quick to announce that both Tamás and Nagy offered their resignation (which was not true) and that a decision will be made after a thorough examination of the matter. The result was that Mr. Nagy "agreed to leave" the paper. Insiders insist that the scandal helped Mr. Vörös to get rid of one of his rivals at the paper. A couple of months later Mr. Füzes also left Népszabadság, to become Hungary's ambassador in Bucharest, Romania.
Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party
The Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party was the ruling Marxist–Leninist party of Hungary between 1956 and 1989. It was organised from elements of the Hungarian Working People's Party during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution...
until 1989 and is often considered as supportive to the present Hungarian Socialist Party
Hungarian Socialist Party
The Hungarian Socialist Party describes itself as a social democratic party in Hungary. It is the partial successor of the communist Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party , which ruled Hungary between 1956 and 1989. The decision to declare the party a successor of the MSZMP was controversial, and...
(MSZP). In 1989, Népszabadság broke away from the HSWP and became independent.
Overview
The current editor-in-chief is Károly T. Vörös. The paper has its main offices in Budapest at Bécsi út 122-124, in the third district. In 2004, the newspaper secured sufficient funds to build an entirely new, high capacity, full color printing facilities for its own exclusive use, which is rare for the Hungarian press. The colorification was meant to preserve the Népszabadságs uncontested number one position among daily newspapers. It has more copies circulated than all of its Hungarian competitors combined, although circulation is declining quickly (see below).This newspaper is mostly owned by foreign media interests (the Swiss publishing house Ringier) although the Szabad Sajtó foundation, created by the MSZP party, owns 26.7% of Népszabadság's shares.
The paper is close to the MSZP and Alliance of Free Democrats
Alliance of Free Democrats
The Alliance of Free Democrats – Hungarian Liberal Party is a liberal party in Hungary, led since July 2010 by Viktor Szabadai . The SZDSZ is a member of the ELDR and of Liberal International...
(SZDSZ) parties and its editorials often supported, though with frequency also criticized the former socialist-liberal government. Its editorials sometimes speak out against the conservative Fidesz
Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union
The Fidesz – Hungarian Civic Union is a major conservative party in Hungary. At the 2010 election in Hungary, Fidesz-KDNP won a two-thirds majority of seats by gaining 52% of the votes, with Fidesz winning 227 seats and KDNP winning 36...
party. On international agenda it is usually supportive of the EU and US policies, rare criticism includes U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's "democracy export" initiative. Népszabadság follows the US in calling certain countries rogue states or part of the axis of evil
Axis of evil
"Axis of evil" is a term initially used by the former United States President George W. Bush in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002 and often repeated throughout his presidency, describing governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction...
and is somewhat critical of Arab countries, both on political and human rights grounds. Népszabadság supports a cautiously pragmatical approach to relations with Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
's Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, based on realities of the Hungarian and EU energy import structure.
Circulation
Népszabadság has had the largest circulationNewspaper circulation
A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the...
up until very recently, but has been overtaken by Blikk, a tabloid newspaper and Metropol, the free newspaper. As most political daily newspapers worldwide (in developed countries and also in Hungary), the circulation of Népszabadság is declining. The following circulation numbers are based on audited data:
- 1994: 300 thousand
- 2002: 195 thousand
- 2009: 85 thousand
- 2010: 70 thousand
These numbers are given by the Hungarian Audit Bureau (Matesz) at http://www.matesz.hu/data/#mainpart_2.
Scandals
In 2003, Népszabadság was subject to a high profile scandal for the paper had published a letter on the front page allegedly from Edward TellerEdward Teller
Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist, known colloquially as "the father of the hydrogen bomb," even though he did not care for the title. Teller made numerous contributions to nuclear and molecular physics, spectroscopy , and surface physics...
. The letter, later proved to be a fake, pretended to be from the Hungarian-born physicist appeared in Népszabadság shortly after his death, claiming to express dissatisfaction with antisemitism and anti-US sentiments in the opposition Fidesz party. The letter turned out to be fabricated by the retired journalist László Zeley, Teller's Hungarian editor. Then editor-in-chief of Népszabadság, Pál Eötvös refused to resign under pressure and later became the president of The Association of Hungarian Journalists (MÚOSZ).
Another scandal occurred in October 2007, when Népszabadság Online reported in a rather unprofessionally worded piece of breaking news the sudden death of Mr. Gyula Horn
Gyula Horn
Gyula Horn is a Hungarian politician and the third Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary, from 1994–1998....
, the country's ex-premier and a veteran leader of the Hungarian socialists. Minutes later the editors had to recall the news item and publish a similarly silly announcement apologizing for the false news of death. It turned out that one of the deputies of the editor in chief, Mr. Ervin Tamas phoned his double on duty, Mr. Csaba Nagy, and informed him of Mr. Horn's death. Mr. Nagy, without delay ordered the editor on duty of Népszabadság Online, Mr. Oszkár Füzes to word a short news item and publish it immediately on the newspaper's site. Although Mr. Vörös also confirmed the news to Mr. Nagy, the next day, when the Hungarian media spoke of "the new Teller-story", the chief editor was quick to announce that both Tamás and Nagy offered their resignation (which was not true) and that a decision will be made after a thorough examination of the matter. The result was that Mr. Nagy "agreed to leave" the paper. Insiders insist that the scandal helped Mr. Vörös to get rid of one of his rivals at the paper. A couple of months later Mr. Füzes also left Népszabadság, to become Hungary's ambassador in Bucharest, Romania.