This project aims to transition the editorial IT infrastructure from a proprietary system to a more versatile, open-source Drupal-based architecture. This shift will eliminate the constraints of vendor lock-in, significantly reduce operational costs, and enable the introduction of innovative new features.
The new system will enhance search engine optimisation (SEO), improve support for multimedia formats, and allow seamless integration with various third-party systems, thereby laying the groundwork for a more flexible, scalable, and future-proof digital presence.
The upgraded IT landscape will include a fully integrated customer relationship management (CRM) system and webshop, offering better integration with external payment providers and advertising networks. Improvements to the feed setup and resolution of existing SEO challenges will ensure greater online visibility. By adopting an open-source platform, Magyar Hang will be able to contract developers on a case-by-case basis, fostering innovation and reducing development costs—avoiding the limitations of vendor lock-in.
The publisher of the weekly Magyar Hang, the hang.hu news portal, and the Magyar Hang YouTube channel is Alhambra-Press Bt. The organisation operates under the brand and business name Magyar Hang (translated as Hungarian Voice).
All content is published in Hungarian. The print edition of Magyar Hang is issued weekly, with 52 issues per year and average sales of over 12,000 copies per week—representing a growth of over 10% since 2024. This makes it the second-largest political weekly in Hungary.
The hang.hu news portal attracts an average of 600,000 to 700,000 users per month, generating approximately 2.3 million page views. The YouTube channel has around 120,000 subscribers, hosts 6–7 regular programmes, and receives around 2 million views and 500,000 hours of watch time per month.
Since 2023, the publisher has also expanded into book publishing, with six titles released in the first year, totalling approximately 20,000 copies sold.
Goals (Expected) of the Project
As part of the project, an open-source, Drupal-based editorial system will be implemented to replace the current CMS. Key objectives include:
- The creation of regional newsletters for Hungary, providing audiences with curated news and events relevant to their specific region;
- Improved feed setup and resolution of SEO issues to ensure increased visibility in search engines and across platforms;
- Enhanced support for multimedia formats, improving accessibility and appeal to news aggregators and social media users;
- A fully integrated CRM and webshop, with seamless integration of external payment systems and advertising providers;
- Improved security and performance through integration with Cloudflare Enterprise services;
Flexibility and innovation through the open-source model, allowing Magyar Hang to contract developers as needed and avoid vendor lock-in, thereby reducing long-term costs and encouraging tailored feature development.
The introduction of regional newsletters will enable audiences to follow local news and events without having to engage with national political coverage. This feature is particularly aimed at providing independent regional reporting to those who currently lack access to local journalism.
