Kaczyński's influence on Polish media – bigger than it might seem
The analysis of the Polish media scenery reveals a complex network of connections and dependencies whose origins date back to the period of the regulation of the Law and Justice.
Public media and their transformation
Under the regulation of Law and Justice, public media – Television Poland (TVP)) and Polish Radio – no longer acting as an impartial broadcaster. From institutions to service all citizens, they became a tool of organization propaganda. As a result, many recipients turned distant from these media, and after the change of power did not return to their programs. Their scope fell dramatically.
This space has taken over another stations – TVN, Polsat and TV Republicsa. Especially the second gained popularity, becoming the main platform for propaganda attacks on the Donald Tusk government and democratic parties.
Right-wing media network
During the reign of Jarosław Kaczyński, for hundreds of millions of PLN from the state budget, an extended network of media, which is the ideological base of the Law and Justice Office, was expanded. but TV Republic belong to it, among others. in Poland24, Zero Channel, portals and publications specified as Policy, Networks is Newspaper Poland.
These media received crucial financial support from state institutions and companies of the Treasury, and present they stay loyal defenders of the Law and Justice, waiting for the organization to return to power, or return to the trough.
A sick example was taking over the company Poland Press by the state-owned Orlen, which gave the Law and Justice the network of local newspapers and portals, allowing parties to influence public opinion besides at regional level. Although PiS has lost power, Poland Press has inactive not undergone major restructuring.
What is more, even the media claiming to be independent – as Virtual Poland – during the time of the PiS government, she received public millions frequently criticized the opposition, and now frequently defends the PiS and attacks the Tusk government.
Mechanism of action and political attacks
The pattern of action of these media is repetitive: erstwhile there is simply a problem concerning the Law and Justice Party, a counterattack is immediately launched to distract the public and hit the democratic coalition. This strategy is organized, coordinated and subordinate to the interests of the Law and Justice and Kaczyński himself. Although frequently based on primitive procedures, it can be effective.
Opposition consequence and politician dilemma
Unlike Kaczyński's well-functioning media machine, the parties that form the current government – KO, PSL, Poland 2050 and Left – do not have their own large media facilities.
TVN, although PiS supporters portrayed as "Tusk television", in fact became the subject of attacks precisely due to their independence, there were many scandals about PiS, Kaczyński, Ziobry, Duda, Macierewicz, Obabiek, Banasia or Wawrzyk, where PiS scandals were revealed.
In fact, the democratic coalition does not have the structures for immediate consequence and active support for government narrative. Politicians trust mainly on press conferences and social media, which is insufficient in clash with the professional media device of the Law and Justice.
An uneven battlefield for democracy
In this context, the question arises: can the fight for democracy, the regulation of law and the settlement of abuses from the regulation of the Law and Justice be effective if it takes place in specified an unequal field?
Smile and love slogans are not adequate – you request sharp cuts and a thoughtful strategy.
Without a major improvement of public media, guaranteeing them real independence, any future election run will be conducted on a favourable right-wing and ultra-right side
Jarosław Kaczyński is well aware of this and treats the media as 1 of the most powerful tools in his political struggle.
