Poland’s new media law is an attack on journalism and democracy

By Media Reform Coalition / Sunday January 10, 2016 Read More
On Saturday, Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda signed a controversial law that enables the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party to appoint the directors of the country’s public TV and radio. Thanks to the new legal provisions, the Treasury minister now has the full power to hire and fire the heads of the Polish public service broadcasters, which have a healthy audience share. Before the law was passed, only a media supervisory committee could do that. What has happened in Poland should remind everyone of the UK of the need for a fully independent public service broadcasting system and for proper arms-length regulation and funding bodies that protect the public interest. Read more on the situation in Poland here and watch a Euranet news story here. Courtesy of Media Power Monitor