Published in MediaPowerMonitor·PinnedMember-onlyThe Hungarian Media Capture Express: Next Stop, EuropeThe Hungarian oligarchy has thus far been focused on controlling media at home. Now, they move on to Europe. By Marius Dragomir, 12 January 2022 As Hungarian elections are fast approaching, political observers and media experts are on the lookout for new media acquisitions by oligarchs close to Fidesz, the…Hungary5 min readHungary5 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Feb 6, 2022Member-onlyIdiot of the Week: Novak DjokovicPeople in the Balkans, the region where the tennis player Novak Djokovic comes from, know the type. Do anything you can, even lie or mislead people, to find the shortest way. Oh, and be as much of an asshole as you can to impress. That is more or less what…Novak Djokovic2 min readNovak Djokovic2 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Feb 6, 2022Member-onlyBulgarian Media: From Hero to ZeroBack in 2006, Bulgaria and France had something important in common. Both countries were ranked 35th on a list of 169 nations in the annual media freedom index of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a Paris-based NGO. By Georgi Staykov, 19 November 2021 Yet, over the course of the next…Bulgaria6 min readBulgaria6 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Feb 6, 2022Member-onlyThe Kyiv Post Is Dead, Long Live the Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Post was shut down by its owner, apparently following pressures from authorities. But its journalists do not seem to give up. By Georgi Staykov, 8 December 2021 On 8 November 2021 the Kyiv Post, Ukraine’s flagship English newspaper that was founded more than 25 years ago, unexpectedly folded…Ukraine6 min readUkraine6 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Mar 29, 2021Member-onlyPrivate Investors in Talks to Fund European JournalismA group of unnamed private investors are discussing plans to support independent media, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. As a response to the deteriorating state of independent media and journalism, a group of private equity and venture capital management companies are in talks to create an investment fund for independent journalism, according to a source in the consortium. …Investors3 min readInvestors3 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Feb 20, 2021Member-onlyThe Terrorist Assault on the CapitolWhat happened is terrorism — the use of violence to achieve political ends. — By Silvio Waisbord After Trump’s triumph in 2016, many of us speculated that violent mobs, reminiscent of fascist shock groups, would parade through the streets of Washington. Skeptics denied that possibility, invoking versions of the title of Sinclair Lewis’s prophetic novel, “It can’t happen here.” Brown shirts? …Politics4 min readPolitics4 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Jan 28, 2021Member-onlyIdiot of the Week: Jerome RiviereAll French people were supposed to hunker down in their homes last month as the country was under strict lockdown. Some of them though chose to do it in style. …Politics1 min readPolitics1 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Jan 20, 2021Member-onlyInternet Freedom in Europe: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like TurkeyAn increasing number of governments are increasingly turning the screws on internet freedom. Funnily enough, they look at the EU for inspiration. By Marius Dragomir 20 January 2021 When Judit Varga, Hungary’s justice minister, recently accused tech giants of violating democratic norms, many were baffled. …Internet7 min readInternet7 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Jan 13, 2021Member-onlyIdiot of the Week: Josh HawleyThe clinched-fist salute to the rioters supporting American President Donald Trump won Josh Hawley our Idiot of the Week title. Mr Hawley, a Republican Senator from Missouri, was also photographed giving Trump supporters a thumbs up. Flabbergastingly, he also sent out a fundraising email as the chaos began. Mr Hawley…American Politics1 min readAmerican Politics1 min read
Published in MediaPowerMonitor·Jan 11, 2021Member-onlyWhen Reporting Facts Lands You in TroubleA new UNESCO report describes the increasingly captured environment independent journalists work in. — With a pandemic ravaging the planet and mad politicians at the helm in many parts of the world, it is important, now more than ever, to have an independent media that is reporting true facts and that people can trust without suspicion. That is not the case today. Media organizations…Unesco3 min readUnesco3 min read
