Censorship Has Not Been Buried

Michael Hedges April 11, 2020 - Follow on Twitter

Many governments are relying on media outlets to relay critical information about the coronavirus epidemic to the public. In some cases, usually with newspapers, publishing official announcements and directives is compensated. A notable minority see this public health issue as an opportunity to score points.

The Polish Prime Minister’s Office placed official notices related to coronavirus safety measures in print editions of several newspapers this past week (April 6). The newspapers were compensated for the messaging as were websites, social media portals, radio and television channels. Leading daily Gazeta Wyborcza was not among them.

“We want to reach the widest possible audience with this information,” said a spokesperson for the Government Information Center (Centrum Informacyjne Rzadu). “No command has been given to omit any media and the selection was based on an analysis of the reach, reliability and effectiveness of the information.” Gazeta Wyborcza has the third highest print circulation of all Polish newspapers, following only tabloids Fakt and Super Expres.

Official announcements and information in March about health protection and the closure of public schools were also not circulated through Gazeta Wyborcza. The Polish Chamber of Press Publishers (IWP) noted that “virtually all local press” was also excluded. Government press conferences have been held remotely for several weeks. Reporters submit questions in advance. Some are answered, some not.

“It's a political action,” said Gazeta Wyborcza deputy chief editor Roman Imielski to media news portal press.pl (April 10). “It is strange that during the fight against the epidemic, the government should ensure that all Poles are well informed, and not choose the media that will publish government announcements. This is not what governments in France, Spain or Italy do.”

“Although these materials are widely available, in an epidemic, it is the job of the public authorities to reach as much of society as possible,” said Advocate for Citizen’s Rights (Rzecznika Praw Obywatelskich - RPO) ombudsman Adam Bodner, quoted by media news platform wirtualnemedia.pl (April 9). “Ignoring the readers of one of the important opinion journals in an information campaign may have a negative impact on the implementation of the constitutional right of citizens to obtain information. In the state of an epidemic, it can also have a direct impact on the safety and health protection of citizens.” The RPO is a public office within the prime minister’s office.

The Polish government led by the right-wing nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party has continuously railed about “foreign” ownership of media outlets, particularly over critical news coverage. Agora Group, publisher of Gazeta Wyborcza, is traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, just under 51% of share free-float. New York-based Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) holds an 11% stake. Leading daily tabloid Fakt is published by German-Swiss publisher Ringier Axel Springer. Major Polish television broadcaster TVN Group is principally owned by US-based Discovery Communications. Berlin-based Bauer Media owns several radio channels.

Investigations by Gazeta Wyborcza reporters have been unpleasant for the PiS government and its leaders. Dodgy financial dealings at the National Bank of Poland were revealed in 2018. A strange real estate transaction involving Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and family members and the Roman Catholic Church was brought to light last year.

After winning a parliamentary majority last year, the PiS announced it would move forward ridding the country of foreign media influences. In less than a month elections will be held for the presidency, the increasingly unpopular Andrzei Duda seeking re-election advantage by preventing Poles under 60 years from voting by mail. He continues to attack critical news outlets. Thirty years ago, April 11, 1990, the Polish parliament (Sejm) officially disbanded the notorious Central Office for Control of Publications and Performances (Glownego Urzędu Kontroli Publikacji i Widowisk).

See also...

• Hot Topics - Media in Poland

• Hot Topics - Censorship

• Hot Topics - Press/Media Freedom