Mass media in the time of transition

MEDIA IN THE TIME OF TRANSITION
Jacek Żakowski
Aims
The main aim of this series of workshops is to give a broad view of the transition of Polish
media since 1989, as well as to give students a chance to meet those who are considered to be
the main actors of the transition – journalists, editors, entrepreneurs and media-managers.
That is why with the exception of the first and the last class, students will meet in specific
media enterprises. After these meetings selected students will be asked to prepare reaction
papers. Assessment for the course will as usual be on the basis of a final essay etc.
Learning outcomes
Students will gain insight into the context in which Polish media enterprises now work. They
will gain an understanding of how some media enterprises of the former people’s republic
have been transformed to operate in a new context and how private media concerns have been
established as competitors in the new media market.
It is hoped that the course will give students without previous experience in journalism or
other media professions insight into the realia which provide the point of departure for the
more theoretical considerations addressed by other courses in the track.
Class 1
15 years of the transition of Polish media from regulation to free market (1989-2004):
lecture and discussion.
Official, semi-official and underground medias in the last years of the PRL (Polish
People’s Republic)
Transformation of media according to Round Table rules
Towards a free market – transformation under Tadeusz Mazowiecki government
New medias of the first period – Gazeta Wyborcza, private radio- and TV stations
New kinds of media (coffee-table, people, etc)
The media market: Europeanization (?), Americanization (?) or …
Classes 2 – 3
The case of Polityka weekly as a newspaper that survived the transition
We meet at Polityka House for a debate with the editors
Introduction
Polityka in the PRL – (M F Rakowski or Daniel Passent)
Polityka in the ’80s – (Adam Krzemiński or Witold Pawłowski)
Transition of Polityka in the ’90s – (Wiesław Władyka)
Political positions of Polityka in the ’90s – (Jerzy Baczyński)
Economic aspects of transition – (Joanna Solska)
Selected students will be asked to prepare reaction papers after the meeting.
Classes 4-5
The case of Gazeta Wyborcza as a new newspaper. Success story and …
We meet at Agora House for a debate with editors and managers
Introduction
Roots of GW – Paweł Smoleński
Ideology of GW – Helena Łuczywo
Gazeta & Agora SA (Piotr Niemczycki)
Political positions of GW – Piotr Stasiński
Selected students will be asked to prepare reaction papers after the meeting.
Classes 6-7
The case of TVN as new private successful TV station.
We meet at ITI House for a debate with managers and editors.
Introduction
ITI and TVN – the story - Mariusz or Piotr Walter
TVN;a new model of TV station in Poland – Piotr Radziszewski
News and political reporting on private TV (TVN and TVN 24) – Grzegorz Miecugow
How different is private and public TV political coverage – Katarzyna KolendaZalewska
Selected students will be asked to prepare reaction papers after the meeting.
Classes 8-9
Transformation of a state owned TV and radio corporation into public television and radio.
We meet at TVP House for a debate with managers and editors.
Introduction
Transformation of Polish Radio – Eugeniusz Smolar
Transformation of TVP – Kazimierz Żórawski
Economic factors in public medias – Piotr Gaweł
Selected students will be asked to prepare reaction papers after the meeting.
Classes 10-11
Transformation of journalism in post communist Poland.
We meet at TVP House for a debate with managers and editors.
Introduction
Ethics – Magdalena Bajer
Know-how – Jacek Snopkiewicz
Employment relations – Stefan Bratkowski
Selected students will be asked to prepare reaction papers after the meeting.
Class 12
What has changed? What should be done?
Presentation prepared by students followed by discussion.