Heads of Poland's national broadcasters in EBU talks

“The EBU welcomed the open discussions; both sides agreed to keep all channels of communication open in the future,” the union noted in a statement.

The talks were held between EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre, President of the Board of Directors and Editor-in-Chief of Polskie Radio (PR) Barbara Stanisławczyk-Żyła, President of the Board of Telewizja Polska (TVP ) Jacek Kurski, and Krzysztof Czabański, Poland’s Deputy Culture Minister Responsible for the Media Reform.

“The EBU will continue to involve TVP and Polish Radio in all EBU operations and activities, as has always been the case,” the union confirmed.

In late December, Deltenre had urged President of Poland Andrzej Duda not to sign new legislation concerning public media, arguing that “the haste with which this new law has been rushed through Parliament strikes a discordant note about Poland and its respect for the rule of law and the democratic process."

However, the Polish president signed the bill on 7 January.

The legislation allowed the treasury minister to dismiss heads of public media branches and appoint replacements, whereas previously, appointments were made after competitions were held by Poland’s National Broadcasting Council.

Kurski himself was deputy minister of culture for the ruling Law and Justice government prior to his appointment as head of TVP.

On Friday evening, Wojciech Czuchnowski, a journalist from the independent Gazeta Wyborcza daily, walked out of a TVP studio debate in protest against sackings of journalists at the station this month. (nh/pk)

Source: EBU, IAR