About us

Gerard Augustyn - journalist

A graduate in Polish studies and journalism. On a daily basis, a proofreader at istotne.pl. (Most of the texts published in these pages pass through his hands.) Privately, a fan of good cinema (his master’s thesis was about the films of Buñuel and Bergman), American stand-up, Scandinavian crime fiction and... volleyball.

Grażyna Hanaf - journalist

Grażyna Hanaf, a resident of Bolesławiec born in 1971, art historian and journalist for the local group of Lower Silesian portals Istotne.pl (published in “Polityka”). Author of the novels “Joachim” and “Joachim Zemsta” (published by istotne.pl), the therapeutic stories “Dziewczynka-skrzynka” and “Garbuska” (Istotne.pl), and a guidebook to Morocco and a mini-guide to Provence (ExpressMap). Tour guide for foreign trips, specializing in French-speaking countries (Morocco, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the Principality of Monaco). Speaker for Nowe Horyzonty education, visual arts instructor and culture animator. Author of educational film projects for young people: “Ja, ty, my - kreator”, “Oskarowa matura” and “Każdy sam najlepiej wie, co go kręci, a co nie”. She ran the Film Discussion Club in Bolesławiec from 2004 to 2006.

Krzysztof Gwizdała - editor-in-chief

A resident of Bolesławiec, born in 1979. A graduate of journalism at Jagiellonian University. He worked at RMF FM radio (1998–2000), Muzyczne Radio Jelenia Góra (2002), and the local television station Azart-Sat (1994–1998 and 2002–2005). Since 2004, the owner and editor-in-chief of the “istotne.pl” portal and newspaper (formerly boleslawiec.org and istotneinformacje.pl). An excellent photographer in everyday life. A specialist in many fields related to electronic media.

Leszek Socha - columnist

A retired criminal police officer, graduate of the School of Criminal Police in Piła (operational work combating economic crime). He received distinction twice—his examination papers became teaching materials. After the transformation, he co-founded the Police Trade Union in Bolesławiec County, and the Municipal Council in Nowogrodziec appointed him adviser on law and public order—a position he held for two terms. After retirement, a councillor of the Town and Municipality Council of Nowogrodziec and Bolesławiec County. A lay judge in the Second Criminal Division in Bolesławiec. Founder of the “VE-TO” association, defending people harmed by the justice system and administration. In his local-government activities, he brought about the renovation of the fire station and the construction of pavements, a sports field and roads. Honorary member of OSP Gierałtów.

Marcin Zabawa - journalist

A graduate of political science at the University of Zielona Góra. One of the administrators of the now-defunct Bolesławiec Megaportal. Associated with the “istotne.pl” portal and newspaper since its creation, namely since 2004 (previously boleslawiec.org, then IstotneInformacje.pl). A passionate photographer—he particularly enjoys photographing nature at different times of year. He is also interested in team sports. He supports Bolesławiec teams: football team BKS Bolesławiec and volleyball team BTS Bolesławiec. He is a specialist in football.