The Hungarian minority media in Romania

1
The Hungarian minority media in Romania

• István Gergo Székely

2
Overview

• Hungarian minority in Romania integral society,
  encompassing all social strata. Not significantly
  assimilated ? do not use majority language in
  everyday communication and in mass media
  consumption. (Magyari, 2003a)
• too wide-ranged to be considered a typical
  minority media, but too minoritarian to qualify
  as a fully-fledged media system (Magyari, 2003b)
• too dispersed, displaying considerable regional
  differences not a segment for media marketing,
  unfavorable for advertising (Magyari, 2003b)

3
Incomplete media system

• TV
• No public TV station (a station which could be
  received on the whole territory of Transylvania)
  only plans for one one visible consequence
  the lack of Hungarian media stars
• Romanian public TV allocates insufficient
  broadcasting time in Hungarian language
  nationwide networks total of 6.5 hours of
  Hungarian program per week 0.97 of total
  broadcasting time
• Regional studios Cluj/Kolozsvár twice a week, a
  total of 2.5 hours a week Timisoara/Temesvár
  half an hour once a week.
• private stations in cities where Hungarians form
  a majoritary, where minoritarian, private
  stations usually feature a few hours of program
  in Hungarian
• most popular Hungarian commercial channels
  (where available), Duna TV, Romanian commercial
  channels
• Radio
• No Hungarian program on any of the 4 central
  public radio stations
• But cosiderable broadcasting time for regional
  studios Cluj/Kolozsvár, Târgu Mures/Marosvásárhel
  y 4-6 hours daily, Timisoara/Temesvár 1 hour
  daily other regional studios insignificant
  (max. 1 hour/week)
• private stations the same situation as with
  private TV stations
• Web 3 more important news portals
  regional/local portals

4
Incomplete media system the written press

• 2 national dailies, 3 national weeklies
• the most characteristic media consumption
  behavior is the reading of local/regional
  dailies/weeklies (around 15 regional
  newspapers) about 67 of the audience read these
  (too) (Magyari, 2003b)
• relative lack of tabloid press and magazines
• reasons
• lack of tradition Hungarians in Transylvania
  torn off the Hungarian press system before the
  dawn of tabloid press
• lack of resources tabloid press more expensive
  than simple dailies
• accommercial attitude of the operators between
  the two world wars not the economic but the
  literaray elite ran most publications
• elitism of Hungarian journalists tabloid low
  culture, Balkanic character (Magyari, 2003b)
• consequences
• gap on the market filled partly by the dailies
  but their content doesnt match the needs of the
  tabloid readers, so they dont buy regularly
  e.g. only once a week, for the TV schedule or
  for sports news etc. situational nonhabitual
  readers (Magyari 2003b)
• publications from Hungary very popular and also
  publications in Romanian for those who speak the
  language well (and consequenlty would be serious
  competitors hard to decide whether reason or
  consequence)

5
Features of Hungarian journalism in Romania
(Papp, 2006 Magyari, 2003a)

• intellectualization of the field reluctant to
  write about the experiences of other social
  strata
• literaturization emphasis on the philological
  quality of the articles, less on content and
  appropiate sources. Most of them are primarily
  interested in culture, second option domestic
  politics. Sports, entertainment, foreign policy
  relatively neglected.
• elitism tendency to think about the audience as
  an elite community
• the press is rarely entertaining, consequently
  its audience is limited
• lack of business orientation works more like
  nonprofit NGOs than like economic enterprises.
  Yet, most regional publicatons still profitable
• mission of the minority journalist the idea of
  serving the community
• media consumption of journalists similar to the
  habits of the audience barely read Romanian
  newspapers, journalists from regional papers are
  even reluctant to read the national
  publications

6
Politicization of the press

• most of the regional newspapers are the
  successors of the former communist party papers.
• affirmative or approving discourse of the
  Hungarian press uncritical towards the leaders
  of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in
  Romania (DAHR) (Magyari, 2003a)
• especially after 1999-2000 the cleavages from
  Hungary appear in Transylvania too supporters of
  DAHR, Béla Markó and closer to the left-liberal
  parties in Hungary vs. supporters of László Tokés
  and the (inner) opposition of the DAHR, closer to
  FIDESZ dualistic character of the press
• Yet the relatively low number of publications
  critical of the DAHR reinforces the one-party
  system

7
Politicization of the press (contd.)

• extramedial attachments 55 of journalists
  member of DAHR, 62 member of some NGO. Age is
  positively related to both kinds of membership.
  Usually those in a leading position at the
  newspaper tend to be in leading positions in NGOs
  too aggregation of functions is characteristic
  of Hungarian intellectuals belief that
  journalism is a mission rather than a job. (Papp,
  2006)
• Taboos 1. the DAHR 2. the churches.
• Some journalists deny the existence of taboos
  especially the older generation, those involved
  in politics. (Papp, 2006)
• relative lack of left-wing values (Papp, 2006)
• funds financial sources from both Romania and
  Hungary are in fact distributed by the DAHR
• politicians often also serve as sources (Magyari,
  2003a)

8
Minority neurosis

• journalist or media neither chauvinistic nor
  xenophobic
• However on average, journalists would exclude
  members of the majority group from their private
  sphere

The values of the table represent averages of 6
point Bogardus scales 1 accept as spouse 2
accept as guest in own apartment 3 accept as
neighbor 4 accept to live in the locality 5
accept to visit the locality 6 would not accept
at all (Papp, 2006)
Roma 3.57
Bantu 2.81
Romanians 2.14
Jews 2.06
Germans 1.93
Hungarians 1.08
9
Minority neurosis (contd)

• especially in the early 90s, strongly defensive
  tone as a reaction to the nationalism of the
  majority
• minority effect also influences content
  Hungarian minority media deals primarily with
  ethnic Hungarians and their affairs. Natural
  thing, as this group is similar to the
  journalists. But sometimes it may also result in
  neglecting certain issues and overweighing
  others. (Papp, 2005)
• occasional articles hint at Hungarian superiority
  (Magyari, 2003a)
• use of ethnic stereotypes us and them
• mobilizing, propagating, partisan tone our
  leaders, our party etc.
• The issue on which the minority press occupies a
  really genuine position Hungarian-Hungarian
  relations (right-wing press in Hungary resembles
  most. Mainstream of minority publications more
  moderate)
• some people find the Hungarian press to be
  complaining, lamenting, sometimes excessively
  emphasizing its Hungarian nature (nationalistic)
  and think that they survive only because of lack
  of competition
• symbols sometimes more important than social
  facts (Papp, 2005)
• the charge of high treason (esp. on the more
  radical side, after the 2004 referendum on dual
  citizenship, but also for DAHR politicians for
  abandoning the idea of autonomy)

10
Case study Medgyessy-Nastase summit on 1st of
December 2002

• 1st of December national holiday in Romania in
  1918 National Assembly at Alba Iulia proclaimed
  the union of Transylvania and Romania
• For Hungarians not a joyful day (Béla Markó,
  12th of December, 2002)

Poitical context Romania (and Slovakia) strongly
oppose the application of the Hungarian status
law and demand amendment
Adrian Nastase and Péter Medgyessy meet at a
reception at Hotel Kempinski in Budapest and
clink glasses
Protests on Erzsébet square Right-wing
organizations demand the resignation of the
government because the PM has bertrayed the
nation, shouting Down with Trianon!
11
Case study 1 the reaction of the press - Hungary

• Magyar Nemzet (conservative, right-wing)
• Mediaseanu celebrates the Hungarian PM whose
  code-name is Péter Medgyessy
• Romanian feast in Budapest
• The PM caused scandal a shame and the
  humiliation of the Hungarian nation
• perhaps Romanian ministry of foreign affairs
  bought the hotel in the meanwhile without our
  knowledge commenting the fact that the
  reception had been announced to take place at
  Romanian embassy in Bp.
• even geographically beyond the idea of from the
  Dniester to the Tisza
• Népszabadság (left-liberal)
• Hungarian government can feel eased, because
  Romania will not reject the status law
  unconditionally
• Medgyessy crossed the Rubicon of doing such a
  gesture
• It would have been rude to reject the invitation.
  However, the same article aknowledges that no one
  can expect that sound of mind Hungarians could
  rejoice over the 1st of December 1918.

12
Case study 1 The reaction of the press - Romania

• Adevarul
• before the event suggesting that the Romanian PM
  should celebrate in Romania imagine what would
  happen if G.W.Bush wouldnt spend the 4th of July
  in the U.S.
• Highway of Friendship Unprecedented event
  yet, the Earth didnt crack under our feet
  although seemed political suicide, the gesture is
  a first signal towards the future, which
  catches the wind out of the sails of the
  extremists on both sides.
• It is interesting to note that both Magyar Nemzet
  and Népszabadság cite a sentence from this
  article, but totally out of context Nastase
  commited treason, that even the darkest
  nationalist scripts wouldnt have imagined. The
  original article sarcastically starts with this
  sentence
• Adevarul de Cluj
• Romania and Hungary should forget the injuries
  from the past
• Evenimentul Zilei
• less emphasis on the content of the summit, more
  attention on the protests againts it. Objective,
  one article even makes the claim that the public
  opinion in Hungary doesnt agree with the
  attitude of the protestors, rather it condemns
  it.
• A couple of weeks later Hungarian extremist
  protested once again. This time the paper warns
  that such demonstrations are detrimental to the
  international image of Hungary and can threaten
  the stability of Central Europe.
• Ziua
• Hungarian officials think that Romania annexed
  Transylvania. Otherwise the paper devoted
  relatively little space to the journey of Nastase
  to Bp., they rather cover celebrations in Romania

13
Case study 1 Reaction of Hungarian press in
Romania

• Both national dailies rather focus on the
  content of the meeting and report about the
  protests without commenting
• Column in Krónika contrasts the Budapest events
  with an incident in Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyör
  gy, where the Hungarian mayor was reluctant to
  display sufficient Romanian flags on the
  national holiday. The columnist writes that
  something happened in Budapest. The two PMs took
  the risks, and the event is a sign that one need
  not necessarily approach the national holiday of
  the other group with passionate anger. The
  conclusion is that the mentioned mayor is still
  far from understanding this.
• The event was relatively neglected in the
  regional press mostly only news-agency material
  featured, without commentary.
• Some newspapers (but most importantly the
  Internet portals) take over articles from Hungary
• Radical press (Erdélyi napló) similar rethoric
  to Magyar Nemzet
• obsequious Hungarian foreign policy
• what would happen to a Romanain PM if he would
  celebrate with his Russian collegue the
  Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (by which Russia gained
  Bessarabia)
• The next step would be for the Hungarian
  government to celebrate the anniversary of the
  Mohács battle with some Suleyman
• Romanian feast in Budapest - emphasis on
  police violence against protestors

14
Case study 1 Conclusion

• The press in Hungary displayed the strongest
  differences
• The most radical positions came from Hungary too,
  but Transylvanian publications borrow these
  articles and some publications also match the
  style in their own articles
• Romanian press generally moderate
• Generally speaking, the Hungarian media in
  Romania treats the events soberly, without
  playing the nationalist card
• Nevertheless the polarization from Hungary is
  also displayed in Transylvanian publications

15
Case study 2 draft report on accession of
Romania to the EU

• The foreign affairs committee of the EP discusses
  the draft report on accession of Romania by
  Pierre Moscovici. The document is important
  because it is the last report before the
  accession.
• The report notes that substantial progress has
  been made in the reform of the justice system,
  the fight against corruption etc., but further
  progress is needed in the fields of child
  protection, integration of minorities, in
  particular the Roma and Hungarian minorities, and
  the treatment of the mentally handicapped
• 3 areas still unsatisfactory reform of the
  justice system and the fight against organised
  crime and corruption absorption of Union aid in
  the agricultural sector application of the
  acquis communautaire in certain areas of food
  safety. The first should be the focus of special
  attention from the Romanian authorities.
• It is obvious, that Romania still has a lot of
  work to do.
• Yet, the minority press focuses almost
  exclusively on the issue of the Hungarian
  minority

16
Case study 2 draft report on accession of
Romania to the EU

• Krónika, Szabadság briefly review the report,
  then deal in more detail with the amendments
  handed in by Hungarian MEPs
• ÚMSZ reports on the 14th of November that the
  Hungarian Human Rights Foundation urges the MEPs
  to take into consideration the rights of the
  Hungarian Minority and draws attention to the
  amendments. The document is reviewed more
  thoroughly only on the next day. (15th of
  November), and is the only to mention other
  amendments (esp. reagrding the access of Romanian
  citizens on the labor merket)
• Bihari Napló (regional daily) two interviews 1.
  with Kinga Gál, member of FIDESZ and MEP, 2. with
  DAHR observer in EP. Both exclusively about the
  issue of minorities
• Adevarul the Foreign Affairs Committee has
  harshly amended the Moscovici report which was
  favorable to Romania. The paper stresses that
  most of the amendments have been formulated by
  Kinga Gál, a constant critique of Romania. Two
  more amendments are referred to, but in much less
  detail one by the Greens about Rosia Montana and
  one about lustration of future Romanian MEPs.
• Gândul only this last amendment is mentioned
• România Libera short news most of the
  amendments were favorable, those whch formulated
  criticism came from the Hungarian MEPs.

17
Bibliography

• Magyari Tivadar. 2003a. Hungarian Minority Media
  in Romania Toward a Policy of Professional
  Improvement. In Sükösd Miklós Bajomi-Lázár
  Péter (szerk.) 2003 Media Policy Reform in
  East-Central Europe. Budapest, CEU Press.
  185-202.
• Magyari Tivadar. 2003b. Elemzések a romániai
  magyarok sajtóolvasási szokásairól Analyses
  about the Press Reading Habits of Hungarians in
  Romania. In Erdélyi Társadalom. Vol. I., No. 1.
  113-131.
• Papp Z. Attila. 2005. The Hungarian Press System
  in Romania During the Nineties The World of the
  Operators. Regio, Volume 8. pp. 141-153.
• Papp Z. Attila. 2006. Keretizmus. A romániai
  magyar sajtó és muködtetoi 1989 után Framism.
  The Hungarian Press System in Romania and its
  Operators after 1989. Csíkszereda, Soros
  Oktatási Központ.
• HTMH Observer 2002/46 2002/47 (www.htmh.hu)
• www.nol.hu
• www.mno.hu
• www.adevarulonline.ro
• www.evenimentulzilei.ro
• www.ziua.ro
• www.hhrf.org/erdelyinaplo