Publisher In Quandary Over Old And New

Michael Hedges June 30, 2021 Follow on Twitter

Times change. More importantly, time passes. This presents a huge challenge; not so much for publishers reading the daily tealeaves, also known as the very black and white revenue statements. It is a huge problem for staff, particularly on the editorial side, comfortable in their thought silos.

Poland’s news media continues to face a myriad of challenges, mostly resulting from actions of the right-wing populist, nativist government controlled by the Law and Justice Party (PiS). Digital transition was slow and hesitant amidst a population greatly attracted by smartphones and social media and the news and views propelled by them. The PiS government propped up favorable news outlets and filed SLAAP - strategic lawsuit against public participation - actions against all critics.

Prominent Polish media house Agora SA has mostly survived this battering, including the loss of state advertising as punishment from the PiS. It is a publicly traded company, investors including domestic and foreign fund managers. It publishes several print titles and operates several radio channels. The proposed acquisition by Agora of the Eurozet group of radio stations was blocked in January by the PiS government on competition grounds and is currently being litigated.

An internal plan to consolidate operations - including editorial - of Agora’s daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza (GW) and news portal Gazeta PL has raised tensions, largely of the corporate culture variety. Complaints have been lodged by GW staff and executives, calling changes in the internal structure “reckless and poorly constructed actions,” noted Press PL (June 30).

A new employee group has organized, in the form of a trade union, called the Committee for the Defence of the Gazeta Wyborcza. “At a time of increasing attacks by the current government on the (GW),” said its first statement, “this conflict is leading to an internal weakening of the (GW) as an institution important for millions of Poles, who see the guardian of this freedom in the (GW) way.” Agora SA executives have backed down pending further negotiations.

“If our colleagues on the (Agora) board do not want the story told as those who murdered the most important newspaper in this part of the world, then they should understand that so far it is impossible to rule the Gazeta,” ominously offered chief editor and Gazeta Wyborcza co-founder Adam Michnik.

Gazeta Wyborcza has been a heavyweight in Poland’s news media, the masthead of the Solidarity Movement since 1989. Co-founder Adam Michnik remains chief editor. Its editorial position is considered neoliberal, leaning toward conservatism. For many reasons, not least the passage of time, its status has waned. In the Agora Q1 financial statement, Gazeta Wyborcza had sold just under 63,000 print copies per day with 258,000 digital subscriptions for online portal Wyborcza PL. In 2012 it was selling 257,000 copies per day and engaging nearly 3.5 million readers. Gazeta Wyborcza has been Agora’s main news brand.

When launched in 2001 Gazeta PL was the web portal for GW. The two separated editorially in 2008, Gazeta PL taking a “lighter” tone with more emphasis on video content. Wyborcza PL appeared as the web portal for GW. The crux of the disagreement is, simply, whether or not Gazeta Wyborcza, particularly its leadership and staff, will remain the top priority for Agora SA.

In data published recently in the Reuters Institute Digital News Report, Gazeta Wyborcza’s weekly reach is 17%, highest among print news media. TVN News channels topped, reaching 49% with television news channels. The Wyborcza PL news portal reaches 20%, Gazeta PL reaching 17%. In terms of trust, Gazeta Wyborcza has the confidence of 53%. Radio channel RMF FM topped that list with 68% confidence. State TV TVP was at the bottom with 36%.

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