In fresh days, the media has discussed the cancellation of the interview with TVN reporter Marta Gordziewicz, by the president of the National Radio and tv Council (KRRiT), Maciej Świrski. Reason? Failure to supply a certificate from TVN on non-compliance with ZUS contributions. The case caused a storm in the journalistic community and became another component of the discussion about media financing in Poland.
Television backing Republic – controversy around millions of PLN
Marta Gordziewicz, in her coverage “Black on White” aired by TVN, described how during the regulation of the Law and Justice, tv Republic received tens of millions of zlotys from companies and state institutions. This money was transferred under the cloak of buying advertising and sponsorship, even though the station had very low ratings at the time.
"Gordziewicz talked about this, among others, with the associate of the KRRiT prof. Tadeusz Kowalski and managers of the company MWE Networks, who did not get a concession in this competition", stressed the Virtual Media portal.
One of the key themes of the study was the transfer of the ground concession by Maciej Świrski in mid last year. The writer planned to address this issue during an interview with the KRRiT president.
Interview cancelled – curiosity requirements or pretext?
Marta Gordziewicz arranged for an interview with Maciej Świrski on 7 November through KRRiT spokesperson Teresa Brykczyńska. A fewer days before the meeting, however, the writer received an email asking for papers confirming that he was working at TVN and that the broadcaster was not behind with ZUS contributions.
“Such conditions are not set by anyone. Gordziewicz besides formally pointed out that she had never met specified expectations before the interview" – she emphasized in the relationship.
The writer asked the spokesperson to state the legal basis for specified requirements. In response, she received information that since she had not provided the documents, the interview was cancelled.
"Prof. Tadeusz Kowalski assessed in the study that setting specified a condition is curiosistic and was an excuse to retreat from the conversation" – it was written on the Virtual Media portal.
TVN a ZUS – legal dispute in the background
It is worth reminding that a fewer years ago, a complaint against TVN to ZUS was lodged by the image operator Kamil Rozalski, who is presently in a legal dispute with the broadcaster. In 2021, TVN reported that it had concluded 800 employment contracts as part of fresh jobs, and in 2022 planned to employment respective twelve more people.
"In the autumn of 2022, in consequence to the union's call for a wage and employment increase, TVN indicated that in 3 years he had employed 1.7 1000 people in office", recalled.
Problems of workers in the Republic
On the another hand, tv workers of the Republic have repeatedly complained about delays in pay. At the end of 2018 and 2019, they alerted about this in statements sent, among others, to the Prime Minister's office. In the spring of 2022 almost all the employees of the net portal left the station, and the main reason was the hold in payoffs.
Summary
The cancelled interview with Marta Gordziewicz is another chapter in the discussion on the transparency of media financing in Poland. The requirements set by the KRRiT were considered to be curiosal, and the full situation raises questions about the motives behind the decision of the president of Świrski. At the same time, the Black and White study recalled the controversy surrounding tv backing by the Republic, prompting reflection on the legitimacy of public spending on the media.
Are specified practices in line with the principles of journalistic ethics and transparency? The answer to this question remains open, but 1 thing is certain – the subject of media financing in Poland is inactive emotional and needs further analysis.
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"No ZUS certificate submitted". KRRiT president abruptly canceled an interview with TVN reporter