Controversy Over Polish Parliament’s Media Access

The news in Polish

1. marszałek (m.)
   osoba pełniąca najwyższą funkcję w Sejmie lub Senacie ↩︎
2. oskarżyć
   postawić kogoś w stan zarzutu popełnienia przestępstwa ↩︎
3. ograniczenie (n.)
   działanie lub środek zmniejszający możliwość korzystania z jakiegoś dobra ↩︎
4. dziennikarz (m.)
   osoba zajmująca się zbieraniem i przetwarzaniem informacji dla mediów ↩︎
5. restrykcja (f.)
   środek ograniczający lub zakazujący czegoś ↩︎
6. poszanowanie (n.)
   okazywanie respektu lub uznania dla kogoś lub czegoś ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Who is accused of limiting media access to the Parliament?

Question: What is planned for journalists in the Parliament building?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
marszałek (m.)	marshal
oskarżyć	accuse
ograniczenie (n.)	restriction
dziennikarz (m.)	journalist
restrykcja (f.)	restriction
poszanowanie (n.)	respect

Read the full story

During a televised report, Katarzyna Karpa-Świderek, Director of the Media Service Office of the Sejm Chancellery, explained that there are moments when the Speaker requires a quiet environment, stressing that journalists have designated areas, like common rooms, where they can work and enjoy refreshments. The parliamentary officials are reportedly in the process of creating a new media room to better accommodate journalistic activities, indicating that the current arrangement in the parliamentary corridors might not be ideal for media operations.

Szymon Hołownia, addressing the issue, denied any formal restrictions on journalists. He emphasized that traditionally there was a mutual understanding among media personnel and parliamentary officials, which ensured that scheduled interviews could occur without impromptu gatherings outside offices. He described these reports of restriction as being “blown out of proportion.” Hołownia reassured that the aim was merely to streamline cooperation with the media while maintaining the workspace’s integrity for all.

Hołownia, reflecting on his term, stated his openness to the media, asserting that he had given more interviews than the two previous Speakers combined over the past eight years. He reaffirmed his commitment to open communication but highlighted the need for maintaining what he termed an “ecological balance” in the collaborative dynamic between media personnel and parliamentary staff. According to him, previous informal agreements on media interactions appeared to have been breached, leading to these misunderstandings.

This unfolding situation in the Polish Parliament underscores the ongoing discussions around media freedoms and accessibility in governmental spaces, highlighting the need for clarity and mutual respect in professional engagements.

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