The Booth nominates Alter Róbert, president of the Community of Independent Local Papers (The Booth), as a member of the Independent Public Media Council. Our community decided to put forward its own candidate because we consider it essential that the perspectives of people living outside Budapest receive real weight in the operation and oversight of a renewed public media system.
Eighty percent of Hungary’s population lives outside the capital, yet their reality appears in the national media only occasionally. In our view, public media must serve the whole country: it must regularly and credibly present the life, problems, achievements and diversity of rural and local Hungary.
Alongside impartial and comprehensive information, restoring public trust requires measurable public-service performance, transparent selection of leaders and accountable financial management.
“I do not want to represent a single city or region. I will make sure that the perspective of local Hungary is not absent from the council’s work for a single moment. I will be the voice, eyes and ears of rural Hungary so that public media truly serves the whole country,” said Alter Róbert.
The Independent Public Media Council exercises ownership and supervisory rights over public-service media companies. Its task is not to determine editorial content, but to monitor the fulfilment of public-service objectives, protect editorial independence, select leaders and supervisory bodies, and oversee financial management and high-value commitments.
The Booth firmly believes that managing public media funded by public money carries exceptional responsibility. Overlapping structures must be identified, measurable objectives must be set, and high-value contracts must be subject to strict oversight. Transparent cooperation with local newsrooms could simultaneously improve the territorial coverage of public media across the country, the quality of information and the efficiency of public spending.
Press contact
Community of Independent Local Papers Association
fulke@afulke.hu
+36 70 945 6091 – Tamás Bethlen
Background
Alter Róbert has worked in local media for approximately twenty-five years. He is co-founder and managing director of KecsUP Hírek and president of The Booth, which brings together six publishers and eight newsrooms. He previously served on the supervisory board of Kecskeméti Televízió Nonprofit Kft. and was chair of the supervisory board of Kecskeméti TISZK Nonprofit Kft. He holds degrees in engineering and economics and engineering informatics, as well as a certified accountant qualification; as a company director and financial manager, he also has extensive experience.
About The Booth
The Community of Independent Local Papers Association, or The Booth, is a national professional media organisation currently bringing together six independent local publishers and eight newsrooms. Its aim is to strengthen the diversity of local public life, reliable information and press freedom. The Booth supports professional cooperation, collective representation and knowledge sharing among its member newsrooms, as well as the sustainable and ethical operation of independent local media. The members of The Booth are: Borsod24 – Miskolc, Debreciner – Debrecen, KecsUP Hírek – Kecskemét, Szabad Pécs – Pécs, Szabolcs24 – Nyíregyháza, Szegeder – Szeged, Szol24 – Szolnok and Veszprém Kukac – Veszprém.
