Magyar Távirati Iroda
Hungarian news agency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MTI (Magyar Távirati Iroda, literally "Hungarian Telegraphic Office") is a Hungarian news agency. One of the oldest news agencies in the world, it was founded in 1880.[1]
July 26, 2026 (second time)
Commemorative medal issued on the 125th anniversary of the founding of MTI. | |
| Type | Nonprofit Ltd. |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1, 1881 (first time) July 26, 2026 (second time) |
| Defunct | June 30, 2015 (first time) |
Area served | Hungary |
| Owner | Független Közmédia Testület (lit. 'Independent Public Media Council') |
| Website | https://mti.hu/ |
MTI was owned by MTI Rt., founded by the Parliament.[2] The members of the Owners' Advisory Body are elected by the National Assembly of Hungary on four-year terms.[2] It is a marketleader, and is considered by some sources to be a 'balanced and reliable source'.[2] Still, it finds it difficult to raise subscriptions as most major Hungarian newspapers are foreign-owned.[2] It must turn to the government for capital to overcome its technology deficit.[2]
According to a UNESCO report it faces competition both from independent and specialist news agencies (e.g. English-language on-line news sites, including the Budapest Business Journal, The Budapest Sun, websites of various television and radio stations), and from domestic Hungarian news services established by Reuters and AFP.[2]
On 1 July 2015, Magyar Távirati Iroda as well as the three other public media organizations managed by the MTVA were merged into a single organization called Duna Média. This organization is the legal successor to Magyar Távirati Iroda.[3][4][5]
