A move to temporarily remove its paywall is the most significant of twelve commitments the publication is making as it seeks five thousand supporters and subscribers. Quality journalism requires investment, and its independence – spanning governments and systems – is ensured by a loyal audience that financially supports its content.
However, the current campaign landscape also exists within what is described as an illiberal system, where public media has become a state-controlled entity lacking objectivity, independence, and balance. This necessitates others stepping up to fulfill the role of public service. The publication is undertaking to provide this service without access restrictions during the campaign period, but requires support from those who have already pledged their commitment, including numerous well-known figures associated with the publication.
“Being independent and informed in today’s chaotic public life, filled with false and frightening news, is not straightforward, but it is not impossible,” said János Gálvögyi, a long-time reader of the publication, who supports its commitments and encourages others to do the same.
Péter Geszti pointed out: “Free press has a cost, like utilities – but it unlocks a source where independent news is freely available. It’s worth taking advantage of this freedom!”
Gábor Bojár recalled a personal memory, framing his support for making the publication’s subscription content and archive freely available during the campaign.
“Many years ago, in the early days of online news portals, I spoke with Péter Szauer, then CEO of the publication, about how these portals could survive financially given typically free access. Since competing with Google, Facebook, etc., in the advertising market wasn’t viable, the answer was support, and the hope that enough people would value a free press and understand the need to invest in it,” he explained. “I was skeptical and questioned why it couldn’t request subscriptions online like print media. If only we asked for money – Péter replied – and others remained free, the competitive situation would be hopeless. Fortunately, the paywall model has since become widespread: part of the content is free, and you pay for in-depth access. This appears to be working. Now, however, the publication – and hopefully others will follow suit – is making its paid content free during the campaign, asking existing supporters – and other readers – to help cover the lost subscription revenue. They have made twelve significant commitments for the campaign period, worth reviewing. I’ve been asked to spread the word, and I will.”
https://hvg.hu/itthon/20260214_a-ketharmad-mindjart-megvan-de-mi-tobbet-akarunk-vilagossag-valasztasi-kampany-2026
Public discourse is not a counterweight, but a fundamental requirement – Sárosi Péter stated his support for the publication’s twelve commitments based on this principle.
“They were called messengers in the Bible, today we call them journalists. It is crucial that someone brings true news, provides it to us, and that it is accessible to everyone,” said Iványi Gábor in a supporting video.
Kollár-Klemencz László supported the publication’s twelve commitments because he believes understanding reality requires more than just opinions. “Accessing reality. Truth can only be approached, but reality can be made tangible. We need to be informed about reality, with the intention of seeing it, and a platform where People can notice and hear it. The survival of any healthy community requires awareness of reality and the ability to react to it. Without this, distorted truths arise, which make every community sick. Let’s give everyone the opportunity to access reality!”
Bródy János recommended the publication on the occasion of a video premiere.
“The Basic Law recognizes and protects freedom of the press and the diversity of the press, ensuring the conditions necessary for the formation of a democratic public opinion. I recommend everyone to visit the publication’s freely accessible pages from March 1st, which fully meet the legal requirements and regulations (and its unnamed staff are not the soulless components of government propaganda).”
https://hvg.hu/elet/20260129_brody-janos-alkatresz-klip
Csányi Vilmos’s statement aptly summarizes why the publication’s involvement is important during the upcoming intense public period.
The weight of decisions is shared – according to Hann Endre, this is why as many people as possible need access to reliable information.
Metz Rudolf stated that reliable information is not a given – the conditions for it must be created.
And why is reliable information so important? Bod Péter Ákos explains:
A person makes rational decisions only on the basis of relevant knowledge, whether it’s about buying shoes, choosing a career, or electing a parliament. You can also make decisions based on emotion, and it’s often the case that someone is unable to make a decision: “it will work out somehow” – in which case, others make decisions for them. I support any body that makes it easier to get information. The responsibility, however, remains.
https://hvg.hu/360/20260213_mi-kot-ossze-minket-magyarokat-a-valasztasok-utan
The importance of the publication’s role in the upcoming heated public period is underscored by the fact that informed citizenship is not a privilege – as explained by Bőhm Kornél.
Kováts Kriszta’s thoughts reflect why she supports our initiative.
Vályi István recommended the publication to his followers with a poem by Pilinszky, and also explained why he considers our initiative particularly important in the current Hungarian context.
Fábri Péter, a long-time reader and subscriber, supports our campaign, stating that informed decisions require access to information.
“I have been reading the publication for almost half a century and have been a subscriber for decades. This paper has always offered much more than its name (Weekly Economic Gazette) suggests. While the economy is present in everything, even in things you wouldn’t expect, that everything is not nothing: the civilization and culture, the dynamic development of which is more exciting than anything else. The publication writes about all of this, reports on it, and informs us. The articles of the publication are written by well-prepared, serious journalists, often by the best experts in a given field as guest authors. We have been able to read the writings of world-renowned Hungarian economist János Kornai here. But the paper also has a solid cultural section, where we can read articles on cultural history and history – and these articles are always characterized by thorough documentation. There has not been a week when I haven’t learned something from the publication.
The government propaganda likes to portray the publication as some kind of opposition body. However, this is not true, unless we accept that truth and objectivity are opposition privileges. I believe that truth cannot be in opposition. We need as much complete and comprehensive knowledge of the world as possible to make informed and independent decisions. Read the publication to be able to make informed and independent decisions in many areas of life – economic, political, cultural, and others.
I have both print and online subscriptions, the former for in-depth and thorough reading, and the latter for quick information. It is now possible to access the print materials on hvg360, so I recommend that everyone subscribe to at least this form. It currently costs about a cup of coffee a day. And well-informedness is one of the most important prerequisites for freedom.
The publication is now – from March 1st until the end of the election – making its entire archive freely available to readers. This is a great opportunity: nearly 50 years of history, culture, and economics will be visible here. During this period, you can read all of the paper’s content for free. Read, get informed, research. Be free.”
Stefano Bottoni, a long-time reader, readily offered his support by endorsing our initiative.
“The HVG is the Hungarian weekly that I have been reading for about 25 years. We don’t just scan it, we actually read it, because the HVG is a family tradition for us. And we Bottonis love traditions. I can’t imagine my existence in Hungary without reading the HVG (and Magyar Hang) on weekends. But in this ugly world, love must also be monetized. And since there are no rich NER uncles and aunts behind the HVG, it lives fundamentally from the market, i.e. Its readers. It is important that in the coming days and weeks as many people as possible subscribe to one of the strongholds of free Hungarian public life. Not only because they are making everything free during the election campaign (although that would be a good enough reason!), but because they deserve it. Join us! All info here.”
https://hvg.hu/itthon/20260127_hvg-a-vilagossag-kozos-ugyunk-rajtad-mulik-valasztas-vallalasok-elofizetes
