National Media Council (Poland)

The National Media Council (Polish: Rada Mediów Narodowych) is a Polish government agency "with the right to hire and fire personnel for state television and radio",[1] namely Telewizja Polska, the Polish Radio and the Polish Press Agency.[2] It was established in 2016.[2]

The National Media Council plaque on the tenement house at Aleje Ujazdowskie 26 in Warsaw
The National Media Council plaque at Aleje Ujazdowskie 26 in Warsaw

The council is made up of five members, three of which are appointed by the ruling majority and two from opposition parties and they each serve 6 year terms. The council has been criticised for favouring the Law and Justice Party and turning Telewizja Polska and Polish Radio External Service into propaganda mouthpieces. Following the Law and Justice Party's loss of majority in the Sejm in the 2023 Polish parliamentary election the council has been sidelined and no longer appoints the management boards of state media, due to its disputed legal status.

References

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  1. ^ Rice, Condoleezza (2017). Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom. New York: Grand Central Publishing. p. 162. ISBN 9781455540181.
  2. ^ a b Mamont, Daria (June 23, 2016). "Poland to set up a National Media Council". Warsaw Business Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2018.