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Index Resignations 'Blow to Media Freedom' in Hungary

Eric Neugeboren

   Working as a reporter and deputy editor for the Hungarian publication
   Index was a pinnacle in Szabolcs Panyi's career as a journalist.

   From 2013 to 2018, Panyi covered Hungarian politics, uncovered
   corruption scandals and won numerous awards for his work. People would
   recognize him on the streets or at protests, shaking his hand. He even
   saw a government official on TV reading a printout of one of his
   stories.

   "That was the influence Index had," he told VOA. "Both personally and
   professionally, it was one of the best parts of my life."

   During his time at the news website, Panyi said he never received
   external pressure that influenced his reporting. But rumors lingered
   about a "set date" for when the publication would be bought out by a
   pro-government businessman.

   "We knew that it was just too popular and powerful to be simply shut
   down in a very obvious manner," said Panyi, who now reports for
   Direkt36, a nonprofit investigative journalism center in Hungary. "So,
   the government tried to find more covert ways to try to influence
   Index."

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