Media control does not equal political power

Poland is currently debating a new law for the state radio and television broadcasters. Agnieszka Romaszewska writes in the daily Polska that just having control over these media doesn't automatically mean having a political advantage. "Like the majority of discussions that have taken place in the past years about the public media, the most recent one on the legal framework [for the state television] ... is extremely dominated by party perspectives. One reason: the image of the media as an instrument of politics has long dominated this institution's understanding of itself. And for those who've taken part in the fight over the media, as well as for the commentators, it was clear that at issue here was which politicians are shown on the information programmes of [state broadcaster] TVP. ... I grant you, complete control over the public media will perhaps offer these politicians several forums, but it won't give them a decisive advantage in the electoral arena."

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Poland