The state of public broadcasters in Poland
Critics in Poland and abroad have accused the Polish government of turning the country's public media into an instrument of propaganda through a series of restructuring measures. Is the accusation justified? Two Polish media outlets state their views.
Nothing but good news every evening
The liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza voices concern about the situation of the state media, commenting ironically on a recent main news programme:
“First viewers were treated to the news that the Polish economy is at last improving - and all thanks to Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki's development plan. They also learned that Poland is not at all ruined, as many people are fond of claiming. … The government will ensure that things improve for businesses, they were also told. … And finally good news for the average consumer: the deputy prime minister promised that in 15 years' time the average Pole would be earning as much as their colleagues in the rich West of the EU.”
Reporting has improved
Bogumił Łoziński of the Catholic news magazine Gość Niedzielny is confident that news coverage in the country is more balanced than it was before:
“I analysed the main news material broadcast on January 28 - when the broadcaster was still under the management that sympathised with the PO. … On that day four politicians and three legal experts featured in the programme were against the proposal [for reforming the public prosecution department] while three politicians supported it. So there were more than twice as many critics as supporters in the report. … A report broadcast on February 11 - after the PiS had taken charge of the broadcaster - was about child benefits. … The author of the report supported the government's line [he was in favour of child benefits] but he allowed not only four people whose views he shared to have their say but also three people whose views he didn't share.”