(Credit: the Irish Times, screenshot, highlight added)

Hungary’s government stated that it will “ease” its media laws after receiving much criticism.  Hungary currently has the EU presidency.

As iMediaEthics previously reported, the Hungary media law created a “new Media Council” with the power to charge print, broadcast, and online media with being unbalanced or immoral.  Another part of the law could have compelled journalists to reveal their anonymous sources.

According to the Irish Times, “Hungary had been defending the law in the face of criticism from France, Britain and Luxembourg and threats of legal action from the European Commission.”

New changes to the law will be presented to Hungary’s parliament “within two weeks,” Reuters reported.  However, some shifts to the law will include “a provision requiring balanced coverage for on-demand audiovisual media service providers,” and “prior registration” for on-demand media.

Hungarian newspapers dramatically protested the law in January by publishing blank front pages and negative editorials about the law, as iMediaEthics previously reported,