“What we set as goal for Hungarian Television is to be first to inform Hungary’s population on the most important news of the world. This goal was not met on the hour of Pope John Paul II.’s death, and [MTV’s] president made the necessary personnel decision,” said the statement of Hungarian Television, commenting on firing Nika.
“The state TV ha set up an action plan in order to ensure fast and reliable information to viewers,” the statement adds, “and the tasks involved should be performed by the news editor, which he did not do in this case.” MTV President Zoltán Rudi consequently removed Nika from the news editor’s post. Until his replacement is found deputy-editor Gábor Szűcs will be in charge.
According to MTV’s statement, the state channel announced the Pope’s death on a newsbar at the bottom of the screen six minutes after the news arrived from state news agency MTI. In the 27th minute after the news came, MTV interrupted its program with an extraordinary newscast.
TV News Editor Fired On Pope’s Death
Utolsó frissítés:
György Nika, news editor of Hungarian Television Rt. (MTV), was sacked from his position after the state-owned television was 27 minutes late in announcing the death of Pope John Paul II. last Saturday.