They protest over Trwam, but overlook Roman’s actions

Around two hundred people protested in defense of “independent media” and TV Trwam. Yet no one mentioned how the local authorities treat the media in Bolesławiec.

Supporters of “independent media” held a protest in the Market Square today. In their understanding, independent media include TV Trwam, Radio Maryja, Niedziela, Nasz Dziennik and Gazeta Polska. They were most angered by the fact that the National Broadcasting Council did not grant TV Trwam a licence for digital broadcasting. In their view, this decision restricts freedom. During the protest, however, no one mentioned why the owner of TV Trwam did not allow the National Broadcasting Council to publish the justification for its decision.

Nor did anyone mention the situation of the media in Bolesławiec. Here, President Piotr Roman still has not sold his shares in the local television station and continues to pay Express Bolesławiecki newspaper every month for what other media provide free of charge. Such conduct harms media freedom, restricts freedom of competition and supports selected parties—in this case, the Wrocław acquaintance of the president who owns Express.

Nawet dzieci zostały zaangażowane do protestu • Photo author: Krzysztof Gwizdała

The letter from Piotr Roman, read out by councillor Dariusz Filistyński, in which the president portrayed himself as a defender of independent media, sounded like a grim joke. It is sad that among those gathered were councillors who are perfectly aware of whom Piotr Roman supports and why.

In May 2011, we asked Jan Pospieszalski whether he knew that Piotr Roman, who had invited him at the time, influenced the media market and disliked it when someone wrote something contrary to his views. Pospieszalski replied then: “I have no influence over who invites me. […] If that is the case, I hope that my lecture and film will be good catechesis for them.”

It turns out that the city authorities are happy to participate in this catechesis, but take no notice of it. It seems that when it comes to the national issue, people protest because their option did not win the competition. They are not interested in the independence of local media, because here their own people happen to be in power and pay those who need to be paid.