Figyelő

"Figyelő" (Observer) is a Hungarian business and news weekly, published in Budapest every Thursday by Sanoma Budapest Corporation., subsidiary of Helsinki-based SanomaWSOY. Figyelő covers a broad range of subjects, such as politics, business, economy, society, technology and to some extent culture, its approach being economy- or business-related wherever possible. The editorial pieces of the weekly show liberal, libertarian values. Figyelő is perceived in Hungary as an impartial source of information that gives terrain to the centre-left and centre-right politicians and analysts. It has a cooperation agreement with Business Week, the international business magazine.

Stories

Figyelő was launched in 1957. It has started and covered several infamous stories of Hungarian politics, notably, the "Tocsik-case" in 1996, a corruption scandal related to the then-socialist-liberal government coalition of Hungary. The case has been revealed following an article of Figyelő, and has later swollen into one of the greatest scandals of the history of the post cold war Hungary. Some years later, in 2003 Figyelő revealed a huge banking scandal, in which politicians and well-known businessmen were involved. Figyelő received the Hungarian Pulitzer Memorial Award in 2006, and recently its journalists got some other prestigious awards, such as the Prize of Qualitative Journalism.

Staff

The publisher of Figyelő is Viktor Bálint. Its editor-in-chief has been József Péter Martin since February 1, 2003. The paper's senior editorial staff includes Ernő Simon (deputy editor-in-chief), Ervin Zsubori (managing editor), Gábor Lambert (senior editor), Károly Litván (copy editor) and András Dániel (art director). Figyelő's sections are headed by Gábor Ács (finance, investment), Irén Hermann, Zsuzsa Mártonffy (society, style) and Katalin Vrannai (markets, companies).

Circulation

According to Hungarian Circulation Audit Association (Magyar Terjesztésellenőrzési Szövetség, MATESZ) Figyelő sold an average of 12,853 copies in Q4, 2007, which gives the weekly a solid position on the market of Hungarian weekly publications. [ [Matesz] ] According the figures of the National Media Analysis, done by pollsters Szonda Ipsos and GfK, the paper's readership in H2, 2007 was 50,000. A copy of Figyelő costs HUF 385 (approx. $2.4) at newsstands. The rate tariff of a full-page ad in the paper is HUF 1,050,000 (approx. $6,500).

Brand Name, Supplements

Figyelő's publisher company Sanoma Budapest has a strong web-presence since the late 1990s, and developed Figyelő's online version FigyelőNet (http://www.fn.hu) into an entirely independent news portal. Figyelő's brand name is also used for the quarterly, thematic publication Figyelő Trend that covers some major market fields each year. The yearly publication Figyelő Top 200 contains listings, details and figures concerning the 200 biggest companies of the Hungarian economy. Sanoma Budapest also arranges professional conferences under Figyelő's name, on subjects like Business Continuity Planning, Corporate Social Responsibility or the climate change. Figyelő Top 200 awards are handed over on Gala nights called Figyelő Top 200 Gála, (arranged in the mid of October each year), with the participation of top dogs of the Hungarian economy.