Open letter to Prime Minister Donald Tusk

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you on the financing of public media, as the Society of Journalists’, has, since its founding in 2012,  set itself the goal of “promoting high journalistic standards and defending freedom of speech.” These standards in public media should be of the highest quality. However  this  depends on the financial resources these media outlets have at their disposal.

Marta Cienkowska, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, has announced the allocation of PLN 2.5 billion in 2026 for the financing of public media. This amount, with an indexation mechanism, is to be included in the draft media law. We believe that this draft law is a step in the right direction, and we will participate in the promised public consultations on the draft law

However, we are concerned about the level of spending on public media following the abolition of the radio and television license fee, which is dysfunctional and must be abolished, as you yourself stated 17 years ago. At the beginning of 2025, the assumptions for the media law stipulated funding for public media at 0.09% of GDP. Currently, it is PLN 2.5 billion, which translates to 0.06% of GDP. According to the EBU, this is half the European average (0.12% of GDP), less than in other Central and Eastern European countries. This public media funding is comparable to that of Moldova, even though Poland is moving to become the world’s 20th-largest national economy.

We understand that the 2026 budget is exceptionally tight due to defence spending. However, “independent, impartial, and credible” (as stated in EMFA) public media in the “pre-war” era, as you describe our times, are also crucial our national security. Thus, sufficient funding should be allocated for the public service media which are part of our critical infrastructure. The provision for the spend on public media must be included in the 2026 budget. This is because the budget is the only law which the President is bound to sign.

We also appreciate the reasons for the continuing “public media in liquidation,” situation but this process should now be ended, as it hinders the operation and further reform of these media outlets. The state of liquidation means that journalists remain politically dependent on management. Also media employees cannot raise bank loans as long as their employer remains in a state of liquidation. In case the president were to refuse to sign the EMFA related  media law, we urge you to develop a “plan B,” which would including the ending the liquidation status of public media outlets, and would see the implementation of those parts of EMFA which do not require separate legislation. In addition, the Charters which govern public sector output should be reviewed, and new media appointments should be made through competitive and transparent procedures as foreseen by EMFA.

Yours Sincerely,

Cezary Łazarewicz

Chair of the Board