This year is coming to an end, an annus horribilis for many throughout the world, yet a transformative, rejuvenating period for our news portals, Hungary Today and Ungarn Heute.
Our greatest challenge was not losing sight of our duties as journalists, where within a Western context denouncing and denigrating Hungary has become the norm, or even bon mot. We, on the contrary, have made it our daily pursuit to restore what we believe to be the genuine voice of Hungary. We have effortlessly found something good to say about Hungary every single day. As a result, those who find this small country by the Danube an inspiration and understand its struggles against an overwhelming global barrage, have found a perspective on our pages that is unique among English-, and German-language reports about Hungary.
We see many instances where journalism has become a trans-democratic instrument, that is, instead of serving democracies, citizens, the electorate, it has come to see its main duty as re-educating society, controlling the political discourse, and often to be the judge of what is, or is not a legitimate opinion. We, on the other hand, see journalism as a service, an essential resource for the community that had created the liberties and political context that makes our existence possible.
Freedom is never a choice between good and evil, and it is never a “do what I want” instrument to feed one’s solipsism.
Strictly speaking, inspired by the Christian message of Christmas, freedom is the power to do good.
In our context, it is the capacity to speak the truth according to our conscience and best knowledge. Because it is not enough to simply love Hungary and to have an immense respect for its people as we do, but also to have the courage and freedom to stand up for it against the prevailing cynicism and prejudice.
Merry Christmas dear readers!
The Editor