“They want us to simply receive the information they choose. They want to strip away our freedom.”
A reporter recalls a taxi ride from Warsaw to Plac Powstańców Warszawy, where the headquarters of the Television Information Agency sits. The journey is part of a broader report on tensions surrounding TVP, Polish Radio, and PAP as the government under Donald Tusk pursues changes in management that journalists say would undermine editorial independence.
Media upheaval
The phrase they faced is clear: a political leadership pressing for control over national media. Journalists and technicians refuse to quit their posts and reject what they see as illegal dismissals amid a climate of political pressure. The driver speaks of a news crew determined to cover stories about TVP and the TAI journalists who resist forced departures.
At home, a spouse is anxious about the intensity of the situation, urging a turn away from troubling broadcasts.
– laments the driver.
Upon arrival at the TVP building, the scene is tense. Police line the perimeter, seemingly reluctant to permit entry. Colleagues come to assist, with Rafał Jarząbek arriving first, his mood restrained as he navigates the blocked entrance and the guarded gate where security guards wear worried expressions.
The team ascends to the office of the TAI director, Michał Adamczyk, where deputy director Marcin Tulicki awaits. In the corridors, a determined mood is palpable. The staff refuses to surrender journalistic freedoms and remains steadfast in their duties.
The conversation with Adamczyk and Tulicki reveals a day of disruption. Access to workplaces is restricted as passes were blocked, preventing many journalists from entering. The newsroom and studios, normally bustling at such a moment, stand largely empty while some staff engage with visiting MPs who arrived to discuss the situation.
Parliamentary intervention arrives with MPs Jan Kanthak and Michał Woś joining the room. Adamczyk explains the circumstances and notes the challenge of broadcasting when the facility is effectively halted. Journalists continue to document the moment, seeking to protect the availability of information to the public.
The assertion is made that while government changes in a national media organization may be legally possible, they must follow due process and the law. Tulicki adds that legality matters, and any power grab would undermine trust in institutions. The broader concern centers on how such moves could set a dangerous precedent affecting judges, the central bank, and other critical public bodies.
A call is made to show that truth and lawful action matter. The aim is to preserve independence and prevent manipulation of information during these politically charged times. The narrative is clear: the media must remain free to report without interference from political authorities.
As the discussion continues, the potential for forceful intervention is acknowledged, with collaborators noting that there are reports of possible attempts to exert control over TAI. The team decides to stay, intent on documenting developments rather than retreating from uncertain moments.
The atmosphere remains tense in the room where the team gathers. The memory of earlier scenes outside the Woronicza building lingers, and the question arises whether similar confrontations could unfold inside this space.
An email to the group from the office of corporate affairs, sent by a self-appointed acting director, indicates dismissals from positions. Tulicki asserts his status as appointed by the legally elected board and by the National Media Council, with the president of TVP named as Mateusz Matyszkowicz still listed in national records. The message underscores a commitment to lawful leadership and the right to challenge unlawful actions.
Journalists and managers alike emphasize their desire to protect their roles and defend the rights of media workers. The group itself changes as more PiS representatives enter, bringing a sense of order and calm to the room. The day’s tension eases as plans unfold for a larger gathering of party leaders in the coming hours, signaling a shift toward de-escalation and dialogue rather than open confrontation.
Conversations are recorded with Prime Minister Morawiecki, Ministers Przemysław Czarnek and Błaszczak, and Marshal Małgorzata Gosiewska. The core message remains consistent: the press must be free, and democracy and pluralism cannot be compromised. With the night approaching, the team prepares to stay on site to cover remaining developments, facing cordons on the street as police maintain a presence outside the public media building. This image marks a moment many will watch as it reverberates beyond national borders, shaping perceptions of Poland’s political climate and media landscape.