80 journos quit Hungarian news site after editor fired

More than 80 journalists, including three leading editors, have resigned from Hungary’s main independent news site, Index.

The announcement comes just two days after the company's editor-in-chief, Szabolcs Dull, was fired.

Employees had described the decision by the president of the board, László Bodolai, as "unacceptable".

On Thursday, Index held a staff meeting to request the reinstatement of Dull, which was "categorically refused".

In an open letter, journalists said the decision meant conditions for Index's independent operation were no longer in place.

"His dismissal is a clear interference in the composition of our staff, and we cannot regard it any other way but as an overt attempt to apply pressure," said Index journalists in a joint statement.

"The editorial board deemed that the conditions for independent operation are no longer in place and have initiated the termination of their employment."

Index' deputy editor-in-chief, Veronika Munk, told Euronews Hungary that Dull's sacking was a direct reason for her decision to resign.

"The sacking of Szabolcs Dull was the step that made me think I can no longer do this job freely, following professional journalistic principles," said Munk. "And I know that a lot of people among those who resigned think the same way."

A march and rally are planned on Friday night in solidarity with Index.

The website has long been a target of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who sought to exert more control over the country's broadcast and media industry, according to Associated Press.

In recent weeks the company said it felt its independence was "in danger" from external forces.

In 2018, Index set up an “independence barometer” to monitor editorial freedoms, after a change in ownership which led to a loss of trust between staff and management.

Last month, the barometer was changed to “in danger” from “independent” after it was confronted by management plans to reorganise the newsroom, which the editorial staff strongly opposed.

Dull released a statement on Wednesday, saying he felt it was "no accident" that the editorial staff had felt endangered.

Index's board said his dismissal was based on a failure to manage internal tensions and economic downturn.

Political journalist Daniel Renyi said he had expected mass resignations and sections of the newspaper to disappear._Agencies

 

Dhaka/AI