“Threats, harassment, intimidation. Actions by the government and other entities against TV Republika 2024-2025” – this was the title of a conference held at the Press Monitoring Center of the Polish Journalists Association (CMWP). Journalists from the station publicly spoke about the situations they have been facing.
The Press Monitoring Center of the Polish Journalists Association prepared a report on threats, harassment and intimidation directed at TV Republika and its journalists. These actions involve both the government and other entities.
Since 2023, TV Republika has become a genuine competitor to the previously largest television stations in Poland. After the forceful takeover of public media and placing them into liquidation, TV Republika became the main source of information about what is happening in the country. Information presented on the station’s air has led to a massive increase in viewership among news channels over the past two years, placing it firmly in the TOP 5. According to a report by the National Broadcasting Council, Republika’s news program “Dzisiaj” outperforms its competitors, leaving them behind.
The result of this success has been a series of problems – advertisers have reportedly been intimidated, while journalists and the station’s executives are defendants in more than 60 court cases. There have also been physical and verbal attacks, as well as threats requiring the application of special protective measures.
The head of the Press Monitoring Center, Dr. Jolanta Hajdasz, invited the station’s management and journalists to the conference. Speakers included Republika’s president Tomasz Sakiewicz, Program Director Michał Rachoń, Head of Editors Jarosław Olechowski, as well as Piotr Nisztor and Tomasz Duklanowski. Attorney Artur Wdowczyk and security expert Prof. Piotr Grochmalski also accepted the invitation.