At the event, journalists agreed on the framework for their joint work over the coming months. The most important tasks will be carried out by responsible working groups.
From 23 to 25 April, the Community of Independent Local Papers, known as The Booth, held its spring meeting in Szeged, hosted by Szegeder. The professional community brings together eight independent local newsrooms in Hungary. During the three-day event, the journalists decided on the framework for their joint work in the coming months, with the most important tasks to be carried out by responsible working groups.
Representatives of the editorial teams of Borsod24 in Miskolc, Debreciner, KecsUP Hírek in Kecskemét, Szabad Pécs, Szabolcs24 in Nyíregyháza, Szegeder, Szol24 in Szolnok and Veszprém Kukac took part in the meeting.
Since The Booth association was founded in 2025, this was the network’s most important step: the meeting in Szeged was not merely an assessment of the situation, but also set concrete tasks. The programme progressed through three professional blocks building on one another. The first day explored revenue models, sustainability and strategic directions, while Friday was devoted to systematically mapping the framework of cooperation and the existing obstacles, with the involvement of an organisational development specialist from Szegeder.
During the first two days, participants identified a total of 36 possible directions for development and growth — from joint fundraising and more efficient internal operations to increasing national visibility and improving the visibility of member newsrooms. On the closing Saturday, a vote decided which 9+1 directions would become the focus of the network’s next phase. Each selected priority was assigned a responsible working group, with concrete commitments and deadlines.
The meeting confirmed that The Booth is more than a loose alliance of newsrooms. It is a strategic alliance of independent local media in Hungary, whose members are building a sustainable local media model for the long term through a shared methodology, shared professional standards and continuous joint development, while each newsroom preserves its autonomy and independence.
The alliance’s aim is to significantly improve the sustainability of independent local public life in Hungary and to strengthen its professional standing and collective representation. The decisions made at the Szeged meeting lay the organisational and methodological foundations for this role.
