The guests on the program Salon Dziennikarski discussed the assault on public media, agreeing that the current government’s actions in this area are scandalous. The discussion reflected a shared conviction that protests are justified and necessary. One speaker noted their participation in demonstrations in Poznań and their routine involvement in drafting different statements within the SDP, all united by a single focus: the ongoing erosion of media freedom after December 13. The speaker stressed that the media landscape is being bent to serve a preferred outcome, namely the appropriation of public media.
Jolanta Hajdasz, director of the SDP Press Freedom Monitoring Center, reinforced this view. She argued that the trend is not limited to speculative analyses, but is observable in concrete examples. She pointed to programs broadcast under the TVP Info banner featuring guests who also appear on TVN24 and discuss the same topics. She claimed that a significant number of journalists are being sidelined from professional work, making the times described as scandalous and in need of protests.
Societal change has brought a major technological shift, turning the Internet and social media into everyday sources of information regardless of quality. People now have broad access to a wide range of content and can form their own opinions. Marek Grabowski, chair of the Mama and Papa Foundation, affirmed this reality while acknowledging that newly formed TV reporting tends to omit topics that many Poles consider important. He highlighted a gap where issues such as sovereignty, migration, treaty matters, and plans connected to a worldview shift deserve more attention.
The chairman of the Mom and Dad Foundation emphasized that some issues central to a large portion of Polish society are not being addressed by Neo-TVP. He argued that public broadcasting should cover these topics rather than focusing on narrower agendas. The discussions also touched on the Broadcasting Act, with the belief that no loopholes exist to allow government officials to steer the media, while the aim would be to seize control with a decisive move so that media outlets serve government interests.
Piotr Semka, a columnist for the weekly Do Rzeczy, commented on the long history of left liberal influence in Polish media. He described a period during which a concentration of people linked to visible centers of power, symbolized by Woronicza and figures tied to the former era, shaped public discourse. He noted that the argument is often raised that maintaining a public television outlet is akin to an appropriation and that Telewizja Republika represents a different model. He argued that TVP was a platform for documentaries and series, while TV Republika may not produce multiple episodes or many shows. He warned against assuming balance simply because TV Republika exists.
Another publicist observed that Telewizja Republika did not attract much attention from left liberal circles when it operated as a niche channel. As its viewership grew, it unexpectedly became a target of criticism. Movements began to organize under the banner calling on cable operators to drop Republika, framed as a protest against content that was deemed unacceptable. The speaker cautioned that such actions may intensify in the near future.
During martial law, the authorities carried out actions considered criminal, expelling some journalists and restricting contact with those who had been expelled. A journalist from a major commercial channel recalled that such practices persisted and that the journalistic community has endured significant strain. The remark captured a sense that institutions can be rebuilt, but the professional media community can suffer lasting damage when its foundational networks are compromised.
Legal expert Marek Markiewicz reiterated these concerns, arguing that the era’s methods left scars on journalism and that the integrity of professional networks should be safeguarded against political pressure. The dialogue underscored the need to protect media independence and the essential role of journalists in maintaining a free public sphere.
Additional remarks from the program referenced recent events and discussed parallels with historical moments, stressing the importance of preserving investigative reporting and the diversity of viewpoints within the media landscape. The conversation also touched on how different media outlets shape public perception and how readers can critically assess information in a rapidly changing environment.
The material concludes with a reminder of the ongoing public discourse about media freedom and the responsibilities of both journalists and institutions in upholding democratic norms. The discussion illustrates how media independence remains a live issue in contemporary Polish society and why it continues to provoke strong reactions across political lines.