Orbán’s media slop spread poison beyond Hungary. Luckily, fearless, fact-based reporting endures For 16 years, Viktor Orbán’s government funded sympathetic thinktanks and media outlets in Hungary and beyond, producing propaganda rather than journalism. Orbán’s recent electoral defeat demonstrates that even extensive propaganda empires are not omnipotent and can collapse when their funding is cut. In contrast, enduring journalism focuses on human stories of resilience and suffering, exemplified by recent investigations into issues like AI in healthcare, child abuse cover-ups, and the neglect of refugees, showcasing the vital role of fearless reporting in a democratic society.

• Viktor Orbán’s government allegedly spent millions of euros on pro-government thinktanks and media outlets, both domestically and internationally.
• These outlets are described as producing propaganda rather than investigative or human-interest journalism.
• Orbán’s defeat on April 12th suggests that propaganda empires are not always successful in securing power for autocrats.
• Quality journalism focuses on human stories, exposing suffering, resilience, and systemic failures.
• Examples of such journalism include investigations into AI in healthcare, child abuse cover-ups, and the conditions of refugees.
• Despite challenges, courageous reporting continues across Europe, highlighting the ongoing importance of independent public service journalism.
• Supporting independent journalism is presented as an investment in society’s sanity and ability to agree on facts.
• Concerns are raised about the future of journalism potentially becoming overly reliant on AI and abbreviation, losing depth and originality.