An Open Letter to media professionals, NGOs, and to all who care about Media Freedom
Today, August 8th, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) enters into force. This law demands that European Union institutions and member states defend media freedom so that their citizens can receive truthful and impartial information. The EMFA seeks to safeguard the independence of public media by establishing institutional mechanisms (election of management boards) and financial mechanisms (sufficient financial resources).
The EMFA comes into force in every member state and thus in Poland as a component of national law
This year’s Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report on the situation of public media in Europe placed Poland 25th place out of 27 EU countries as regards freedom for political control. Only Malta and Hungary are worse off.
Between 2016 to 2023 the government led by Law and Justice, destroyed our public media, turning them into propaganda mouthpieces. A thorough reform is now needed in line with EMFA requirements , and as promised by the present ruling October 15th Coalition.
Starting today, with the entry into force of the EMFA law, we must implement these promised reforms.
The Ministry of Culture must submit the draft text of a new media law consistent with the EMFA requirements for public consultation as soon as possible.
Media professionals and activists from media freedom organizations should oversee the legislative process – from the presentation of the draft law by the Council of Ministers, through its adoption in the Sejm and Senate, to its signing by the President.
We must speak out were the proposed changes not to comply with the letter and spirit of EMFA!
Both the government and the opposition need a media system that effectively eliminates political influence from the public media. EMFA opens the way to build such a system of public media which will in the future ensure that our citizens retain the right to honest information which will be free of political influence
This unique opportunity must not be squandered!
Society of Journalists
Warsaw, August 8, 2025
