Pitfalls in Hungary’s press laws

Press, 31 May 1986, Page 19

Pitfalls in Hungary’s press laws

KARREN BEANLAND

completes a two-

part article on “freedom of the press’* in Hungary; the first part was published yesterday.

Competition by Western TV

A new press law will come into effect in Hungary in September, but critics say it will do little to improve the emasculated official newspapers.

According to those within the system, Hungarian journalists are happy with the law because it will set some of their rights in concrete. One of its main features is a clause requiring officials to answer reporters’ requests for information within 30 days, theoretically opening the way for coverage of more sensitive subjects. Dr Tamas Szego, president of the legal committee of the Association of Hungarian Journalists, says journalists have had trouble getting some official information in the past. However, even Dr Szego, who was involved in the drafting of the law, admits there is a “pitfall.” State secrets, service secrets (a kind of “low level” State secret), individual private matters and commercial secrets are exempted from the provision. The problem lies with commercial secrets, since the law, passed by the Hungarian Parliament last month, does not include a definition. Journalists doubt how much information State and private enterprises will be ready to release. To get around the difficulty, the association has suggested that companies should define in advance what they consider to be commercially sensitive. The law will protect journalists’ rights to keep their sources secret, but it contains a bizarre provision that an interview subject has the right to see copy and ask for changes before it goes to press. In Dr Szego’s view, this will not cause problems because it is already standard practice in Hungary. The preamble to the law reaffirms the right to freedom of the press, with a catch-all exception for views which are “prejudicial to the constitutional order of the Hungarian People’s Republic.” Western correspondents comment that this will give the authorities carte blanche in deciding what is acceptable. Official newspapers in Hungary are not subject to any system of pre-censorship, but all observers note that an effective self-censorship mechanism exists. This is inforced by weekly “consultations,” when the editors-in-chief meet Government representatives to discuss newspaper content Newspapers are also controlled by a system of licences, and an entire edition can be banned or the publishing licence withdrawn if comment goes too far.

Hungary has five daily, national newspapers, and a host

of small newspapers and magazines. Analysts say it is surprising how far they can go on economic and social issues, but there is a firm line when the debate becomes controversial or touches on political questions. “We belong to those who wish to defend the existing social or political order,” says Dr Szego. Weekly newspapers and magazines, like the satyric “Ludas Matyi” and the popular economic journal “Heti Vilagazdasag,” are much more aggressive than the daily press. Hungarian journalists say that newspapers are less open than society itself. While ordinary Hungarians can speak freely on a wide range of issues, it is only the views of party members, State officials, and academics that reach the media. Television is much racier and more Westernised than the official press. Normally, the medium most closely protected by Socialist bloc governments, Hungary’s two-channel system has recently been revamped. Old programmes have been replaced with more entertainment and a high proportion of Western programmes. News programmes are a little more up-beat.

One of the leaders in this change is Janos Ban, who created the popular interview programme “66,” with questions based on letters from viewers. Sixty-six of the writers are invited to make up a studio audience.

' Guest officials are first questioned by Mr Ban and later questions are put by members of the audience. In both cases, the audience votes on whether the answer is satisfactory. If it is not, the guest is asked to justify his position or to change his mind.

"66” is only one of several new programmes where Hungarians can have their say on television. A consumer programme, “Windows,” and a trade union programme, “New Reflector," are among them. Mr Ban says that television has had to become more up-beat because of competition. Television from neighbouring countries, including the West, can be received in 60 per cent of Hungary. Local cable television is already broadcast in some areas and there are plans to feed Austrian, West German, and Swiss television into the system. Videos and the prospect of satellite television will add to the rangeprogrammes availably.