The FINANCIAL -- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today welcomed a Constitutional Court decision that declared unconstitutional several key provisions of Hungary’s 2010 media law.

At the same time she expressed concern over the silencing of an independent political talk and news radio in Budapest. Following the decision of the Constitutional Court, print media will be taken out of the scope of the media law and the institution of the media ombudsman will be eliminated as of 31 May 2012.

The decision also immediately abolishes the limitation on the protection of confidential sources of information serving the public interest and ruled that even in issues of national security or crime prevention, court approval is needed to force journalists to disclose sources.

The decision also annuls the right of the Media Authority to obtain editorial materials from media outlets without prior court approval.Mijatović offered her Office’s continuing support and assistance to the Hungarian authorities with the reform of media legislation.

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