A Hungarian street newspaper published a special edition Thursday including a section produced by journalists from a top political daily which was unexpectedly closed earlier this month, firing fears of growing government control of the media.
The Without Shelter paper, which is sold by homeless people, teamed up with Nepszabadsag staff to publish a special 12-page section as part of its latest edition.
The insert contained contributions from high-profile Hungarian writers, but not words from Nepszabadsag reporters themselves as they have not yet been laid off and remain bound by an exclusivity clause.
"Nepszabadsag was a paper bought daily by 40,000 people who liked it as it was on paper, in their hands, and now they have lost that daily routine," Nepszabadsag's deputy editor Marton Gergely told AFP Thursday at the homeless facility where vendors collect copies of the paper for distribution.
"The readers are sad and we wanted to give them something to keep in their hand to remember Nepszabadsag. We are also in a phase of mourning and this is a part of dealing with it," he said.
Nepszabadsag's closure on October 8 came as a shock to its 60-strong staff of journalists who were not given advance warning.
Publisher Mediaworks, owned by Austrian magnate Heinrich Pecina, said halting the left-leaning paper's online and print operations was done purely for commercial reasons, citing losses in recent years.
But critics said the decision was a fresh sign of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban's push to stifle critical media voices.
As the leading opposition paper, Nepszabadsag -- meaning "Freedom of the People" -- had published several news scoops that embarrassed the right-wing government, especially in the run-up to the recent anti-migrant referendum.
Speculation has been mounting that the title will soon be sold to an oligarch close to Orban.
Since the paper's closure, Nepszabadsag staff have set up shop in a makeshift office donated by a sympathetic company in Budapest, as they consider their next moves.
Without Shelter editor Robert Kepe hailed the paper collaboration as a "show of solidarity".
"It was an elegant gesture by Nepszabadsag to do this as the sellers will benefit from it. On the other hand, we show our support during their difficult situation," he told AFP.
The street paper, printed fortnightly by the nonprofit Menhely (Refuge) Foundation, published some 20,000 copies Thursday -- 12,000 more than usual.
The limited one-off edition was in high demand, with vendors reporting brisk business in underpasses and train stations in Budapest.
"Lots of people have pre-ordered (the new edition), I'm taking 150 copies down to a countryside town tomorrow," 49-year-old seller Agnes Mag told AFP Thursday.
A Hungarian street newspaper published a special edition Thursday including a section produced by journalists from a top political daily which was unexpectedly closed earlier this month, firing fears of growing government control of the media.
The Without Shelter paper, which is sold by homeless people, teamed up with Nepszabadsag staff to publish a special 12-page section as part of its latest edition.
The insert contained contributions from high-profile Hungarian writers, but not words from Nepszabadsag reporters themselves as they have not yet been laid off and remain bound by an exclusivity clause.
“Nepszabadsag was a paper bought daily by 40,000 people who liked it as it was on paper, in their hands, and now they have lost that daily routine,” Nepszabadsag’s deputy editor Marton Gergely told AFP Thursday at the homeless facility where vendors collect copies of the paper for distribution.
“The readers are sad and we wanted to give them something to keep in their hand to remember Nepszabadsag. We are also in a phase of mourning and this is a part of dealing with it,” he said.
Nepszabadsag’s closure on October 8 came as a shock to its 60-strong staff of journalists who were not given advance warning.
Publisher Mediaworks, owned by Austrian magnate Heinrich Pecina, said halting the left-leaning paper’s online and print operations was done purely for commercial reasons, citing losses in recent years.
But critics said the decision was a fresh sign of populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s push to stifle critical media voices.
As the leading opposition paper, Nepszabadsag — meaning “Freedom of the People” — had published several news scoops that embarrassed the right-wing government, especially in the run-up to the recent anti-migrant referendum.
Speculation has been mounting that the title will soon be sold to an oligarch close to Orban.
Since the paper’s closure, Nepszabadsag staff have set up shop in a makeshift office donated by a sympathetic company in Budapest, as they consider their next moves.
Without Shelter editor Robert Kepe hailed the paper collaboration as a “show of solidarity”.
“It was an elegant gesture by Nepszabadsag to do this as the sellers will benefit from it. On the other hand, we show our support during their difficult situation,” he told AFP.
The street paper, printed fortnightly by the nonprofit Menhely (Refuge) Foundation, published some 20,000 copies Thursday — 12,000 more than usual.
The limited one-off edition was in high demand, with vendors reporting brisk business in underpasses and train stations in Budapest.
“Lots of people have pre-ordered (the new edition), I’m taking 150 copies down to a countryside town tomorrow,” 49-year-old seller Agnes Mag told AFP Thursday.
