kitchen talk: Captured, Contested or Reclaimed? The Battle for Media in Central and Eastern Europe

Background and context

The Visegrad Group (V4), the long-standing but rusty alliance of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia, is making a comeback. After years of bitter gridlock over Russia’s war in Ukraine, a recent summit officially revived the partnership. Driven by Hungary’s newly elected prime minister, the four neighbours proudly presented a united front and a bright outlook on the bloc's future.

Yet, as the region is hit by record temperatures and its political leaders have found a warm tone again, journalists in each of these countries are facing a chilling reality for their own distinct reasons.

While Hungarian newsrooms hope to recover after years of decaying public discourse, Poland is locked in a struggle to depoliticise and reform its public media. Meanwhile, people in Czechia are taking to the streets to defend a media landscape long considered a regional role model. Nearby, the outlook for independent reporting in Slovakia is bleaker than ever due to increasing democratic backsliding.

At a moment when V4 leaders are pushing to put the region back on the map, we will explore the challenges that media pulled by political currents in these countries are experiencing. Over snacks and drinks, we aim to untangle the connections, dependencies and distinctions of media within the V4. What lessons can Central and Eastern European countries learn from each other in order to defy capture and retain media freedom, and what lies ahead for (cross-border) journalism in this European region in flux?