photo of Olivia MaziopaOn 4-5 June 2024, a technological conference entitled “Liquation or Reform” was held at the Faculty of Political Sciences and Journalism of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. The Future of Public Media in Poland". The event co-organised by the European investigation and Education Centre brought together a number of politicians, media experts and journalists who jointly discussed key issues concerning public media in Poland.
How do we do that?
The political panel focused on the function of public media in the political context and their importance to democracy. The discussion was attended by representatives of various political options (Andrzej Grzyb, Joanna Scheering-Wielgus, Prof. UEP Filip Kaczmarek) who raised issues related to funding, independency and transparency of public media. The request for improvement of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) was discussed, which has not transferred the funds due from the regional subscription to radio stations since the beginning of the year, which further complicates their activities. Politicians stressed the request to safeguard pluralism in public media so that they could execute their function in shaping a conscious society. Various backing models have been considered to guarantee economical stableness and media independency from political pressure.
Perfect type
The technological panel brought together mediologists and researchers (prof. Jacek Sobczak, prof. UW Michał Głowacki, prof. Stanisław Jędrzejewski, prof. UWr Katarzyna Konarska, prof. UW Tadeusz Kowalski, prof. UAM Jędrzej Skrzypczak), who analysed the current state of public media in Poland and the prospects for their development. Participants discussed the results of studies on audiences, media trust and their impact on public opinion. Attention has been paid to the changing needs of consumers and to the request to adapt content and forms of communication to modern technological and social requirements. Researchers stressed that public media should have an educational role, promoting critical reasoning and the ability to separate reliable information from misinformation. The request for educational programmes to aid recipients to better realize and measure media communications was highlighted.
Is that possible?
The journalism panel was a place for exchange of experiences and reflection of media practitioners. Journalists (including Agata Koss-Dibała, Jan Dworak, Dr. Dominika Bychawska-Siniarska, Prof. UAM Jędrzej Skrzypczak, Prof. Jacek Wachowski) stressed the importance of professional ethics and work for the content transmitted. The proposal to introduce a charter for a public media writer to set ethical and professional standards was discussed, helping to improve journalists' work quality and build public confidence. During the panel, journalists besides discussed the challenges of fresh digital media and platforms, which change the way users consume content. Attention was drawn to the request to adapt to fresh media realities while maintaining advanced standards of journalism and public service.
The conference “Limitation or Reform? The future of public media in Poland" was an crucial forum for exchanging ideas and experiences about the future of public media in the country. The various perspectives and improvement proposals presented by the panels showed the complexity of the issues and the request for further discussion and cooperation between politicians, scientists and journalists. The joint aim of all participants was to make public media that would service the public in a reliable, independent and educational way, although as most participants pessimisticly summed up, this task is highly difficult.
MAZIOPA OIL
