In the second segment of the Journalists’ Salon, which focused on the unlawful assault on public media, discussions covered the necessity of defending freedom of expression in Poland, the importance of conveying to the world the illegal actions of the current government, and the continued concern over the public media being dissolved so that certain issues would not be discussed.
READ ALSO: Journalists’ Salon. A wPolsce.pl TV discussion about the attack on TVP. Usurpers broadcast. This is something that will stay with the public for many months to come.
There Was No Blitzkrieg
For the defenders of public media on Powstańców Square, it proved pivotal that authorities admitted the first entry, based on a ministerial decision, was unlawful. This realization strengthens the resolve to persist, and in hindsight it supports the belief that rule of law can prevail in Poland and that the courts, should they choose to be fair, will insert accurate records into the National Court Register.
— commented on the situation surrounding TVP Info defenders in the buildings at Powstańców Warszawy Michał Karnowski, noting that more disappointments may surface on this path.
People should brace for possible tactics or confusion that could blur the public understanding of events.
— he added, stressing:
There was no Blitzkrieg. The operation could not be completed quickly and painlessly, as some officials had suggested. The resistance proved formidable.
— he recalled that the pro-Polish camp also managed to mobilize parliamentarians who demanded a legal basis for the actions of individual aggressors.
This entire sequence is documented as well. Poles are not unaware of it. Time favors the defenders of the square. Warsaw insurgents
— Michał Karnowski added.
The World Needs to Know What Is Going On
During the program, discussions referenced a remark by Professor Piotr Gliński about a broader operation than the mere destabilization of democracy and suppression of the media. It is viewed as an attempt to install terror in society and push further acts of lawlessness.
The stakes are high. There is a perceived liquidation of state and democratic structures, according to Elżbieta Królikowska-Avis, who noted attempts to govern Poland with resolutions rather than laws, a notion not embraced by her colleagues at BBC or their associates in the European Broadcasting Union.
The world needs to know what is happening here
<p— she urged. In her view, Western opinion often remains unaware of the developments, or chooses not to acknowledge them, according to Goran Andrijanić. The discussion warned that this could set a precedent for similar actions in other Polish institutions.
— he added.
Poland Is a Lawless Country
There was a sense of threat as the confrontation with European institutions intensified, including the brazen takeover of the TVP building and the seizure of signals, with the belief that Europe would not respond swiftly. The day coincided with the visit of the European Commission Vice-President Verа Jourová to Poland, underscoring the apparent lawlessness. The awareness of this is clear, according to Marcin Wikłło, who also highlighted a second form of lawlessness—the decision to liquidate public media.
Poland, in his view, was moving toward a more lawless phase, though it was once a country where such behavior was even more pronounced. Elżbieta Królikowska-Avis agreed with the earlier speaker about the importance of informing the world about these developments.
In this context, the wPolsce.pl studio was reminded of a letter from the President of PAP, Wojciech Surmacz, about the attack on media independence directed toward 500 journalists worldwide, alongside a similar letter from the Polish Radio president, Agnieszka Kamińska, from the European Broadcasting Union.
Let Us Not Expect Freedom of Expression to Arrive on Its Own
Will acts of violence be noticed globally? Will the world accept them? Will this leave a lasting stain on Donald Tusk’s public image?
— this question was posed by host Jacek Karnowski during the next Journalists’ Salon broadcast on wPolsce.pl.
Editor Michał Karnowski answered with three questions: whether a strong, sovereign Poland with independent public media serving national interests is necessary for global relevance; whether that relevance was ever sought in 2015 and whether anyone wished for it then; and whether the world’s attention matters. The answer, he suggested, is nuanced. It is important that the world be aware, but it cannot be left to others to restore freedom of speech; it must be actively fought for by Poles themselves.
Karnowski then asked whether the takeover of public media adhered to the aggressors’ plan and whether there were things to boast about to the world. He concluded that the plan did not unfold as expected; a blitzkrieg was anticipated but did not occur.
The third question concerned whether those who attempted to seize Poland’s public media understood the national character well. He observed that Poles have tasted freedom and that expectations of a smooth transition are unlikely to be realized. The future remains uncertain, but there is a persistent belief that the media landscape will demand accountability.
— he added.
Liquidation of the Media and Silence on Certain Issues
The discussion moved to the declared liquidation of public media by Minister Sienkiewicz and the potential for further manifestations, including the erosion of other important institutions and state-owned companies. The speakers tied this to post-communist dynamics, suggesting hidden services influence the process. The conversation noted that the October 15 elections signaled a shift in Polish society, with the Eastern Border area no longer aligned strictly with the PiS electorate, suggesting a lack of a fully formed civil society, as one speaker observed.
Civil society, the panel argued, must balance privileges with responsibilities. There was a point that Third Way voters did not necessarily back the changes in media that are now unfolding. The speakers stressed the need to communicate reality to the Polish people and to understand what the ruling circle might intend for the media. They conceded that filling the public-media gap entirely would be difficult, but the aim remains to speak loudly and clearly.
The role of the Internet and conservative commercial media was noted as highly significant. While the public media may be shrinking, the media landscape has changed since 2015, presenting a different dynamic. A guest, Goran Andrijanić, suggested that hundreds of thousands of Poles already feel they can have a voice in the media and that the audience wants to be heard.
Shame on the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity
Lastly, the Journalists’ Salon addressed a call from the defense minister to involve the army in the Grand Orchestra of Christmas Charity and the broader debate about parliamentary seats and legal actions against those who challenged corruption in Poland. The discussion recalled political actions before Jerzy Owsiak’s election campaigns and the tensions these created for the WOŚP initiative. Elżbieta Królikowska-Avis framed this as a broader coalition issue, while Marcin Wikłło described long-standing concerns about trust in NGOs and the third sector. Karnowski highlighted the ongoing political struggles against perceived opponents of the current government and noted attempts to legally or politically pressure opponents of the media shifts.
On the square, some participants argued that power ultimately passes and that those who broke the law should fear losing influence. Karnowski closed the session on wPolsce.pl by emphasizing a continued commitment to speaking truth to power and analyzing the media’s role in shaping national affairs.
READ ALSO: They attempted to bribe Adamczyk and Pereira with high severance offers, Wikłło said they received proposals from TVP officials; Others reported that TVP president Adamczyk urged Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz to pay PLN 45 million for damages tied to unlawful actions; Heads of TVP legal authorities have pursued a series of legal measures. A separate report noted the hospital fraud allegations involving a TVP curator and testimony requirements. These items are part of the ongoing coverage of media ownership and influence in Poland, as reported by wPolityce and corroborated by related sector voices.
Source: wPolityce