Mediaworks' SzegedMa Portal Faces Closure After Mass Staff Terminations
The Hungarian news portal SzegedMa, owned by the publishing house Mediaworks, appears poised for closure following the immediate termination of its eight employees. Representatives from the publisher arrived in Szeged on Thursday to execute the dismissals, citing upcoming transformations in their press portfolio as the primary reason. The portal's imprint has already been altered, removing all journalist and editor names, leaving only the Mediaworks CEO and Editor-in-Chief Gábor Bonifert listed. While Bonifert did not deny the reports of the portal's shutdown, he declined to provide further comment. Established in 2008 with a mission to promote conservative values, SzegedMa evolved into a local transmitter of government messages before being integrated into the Central European Press and Media Foundation (KESMA) and gradually merged with the regional newspaper Délmagyarország. The outlet has previously faced legal challenges and criticism for spreading misinformation, including a notable 2019 court-ordered correction. This development marks a significant shift in the local media landscape in Szeged, reflecting broader consolidation trends within Hungary's pro-government media ecosystem.
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