Page 178 - Communication and Citizenship Journalism and the Public Sphere

MUSICAL CHAIRS? 167

forces and under new laws anyone could set up regional, local or
community radio or television stations, cable systems, etc. In stage III, a
National Broadcasting Council, a non-governmental body with a
representation of all major political and social organizations, trade
unions, associations, communities and minorities, would be invested
with policy-making and supervisory powers over broadcasting.
As we have seen, these ideas came to naught. However, in July 1989
Solidarity demanded control over news and current affairs programmes
on the second national television channel and a change in the
composition of the Polish Broadcasting Authority, reflecting the
division of seats in Parliament, as well as the transformation of
broadcasting to a state-owned system, supervised by Parliament. In
addition, Solidarity organizations in major cities are moving to establish
their own radio stations. In June 1989 a ‘Foundation for Social
Communication’ was set up in Krakow. It aims to operate its own radio
and television stations, a telematics network covering Krakow, a
publishing house specializing in books on broadcasting and informatics,
a record company, etc., and also to set up professional training courses
for broadcasters.
As for the print media, the barriers preventing change are partly
administrative (the existence of a huge press and publishing concern
controlled by the Polish United Workers’ Party) and partly financial. To
overcome the former, it is proposed, among other things, that the
concern itself be changed into a holding, giving particular newspapers
and periodicals much more independence; also that some papers should
be separated from the concern and be published by a new house, with a
board of directors composed of representatives of various forces,
including the opposition. Leaders of the Association of Polish
Journalists call on local communities and enterprising individuals to set
up new newspapers, treating their establishment as a business
proposition which can be sure to recoup the initial investment and make
a profit.
Most importantly, however, the number of Solidarity newspapers is
growing and many other new newspapers and periodicals approach
social issues in quite a new way. The process is sure to gain
momentum.

WHAT NOW?
If the situation caused by Solidarity’s entry into government lasts, it
will have far-reaching consequences for all aspects of the social order,