Beata Balogová

Orbán’s media slop spread poison beyond Hungary. Luckily, fearless, fact-based reporting endures

Across Europe, public service journalism is a shield for democracy. But we have to decide if we want to fight for its survivalFor 16 years, Viktor Orbán’s government poured millions of euros of public money into thinktanks, institutions and media outlets sympathetic to its illiberal views – not only in Hungary but beyond its borders. In Slovakia, for instance, where a sizeable Hungarian minority lives, Budapest is alleged to have sent millions of euros to favoured media organisations.