Who Owns Népszava? Ownership, Political Bias, and Editorial Standards
Népszava Overview and Political Bias
Népszava is widely characterized as Hungary's primary social-democratic and opposition-leaning daily. Critics often describe its reporting as consistently adversarial toward the Fidesz-led government. While proponents value its role in media pluralism, some observers argue that its coverage reflects a strong partisan bias aligned with the left-wing political spectrum.
| Standpoint | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Overall political leaning | Left |
| Estimated number of readers | 200,000 |
| Israel support | Supportive of two-state solution / Generally moderate |
| Use of loaded / emotional language | Medium |
| Target Audience | Partisan / Mass market |
Népszava History
Established in 1873, Népszava is one of Hungary’s oldest publications. It long served as the official voice of the Social Democratic Party of Hungary. Despite various political upheavals and shifts during the communist era, it survived to become the sole remaining major independent left-wing print daily in the country.
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Who owns Népszava?
The paper is owned by Horizont Media, controlled by László Puch, a businessman and former treasurer of the Hungarian Socialist Party. Financial stability has been a recurring concern, as the outlet operates in a media market dominated by state-aligned entities, relying on sales and private advertising revenue.