Poland: Polsat Journalist Dorota Bawolek Has Become The Target Of A Disinformation Campaign Leading To Death Threats
Location: Poland
Date: October 20, 2022
Respected Brussels correspondent for Polsat, Dorota Bawolek, was tasked by the prominent free-to-air television channel to cover the EPP (European People’s Party) pre-summit meeting on Thursday, October 20. Due to manipulation tactics used by a TVP employee, Bawolek is now facing a smear campaign and death threats. The Coalition For Women In Journalism strongly condemns these acts of suppression and calls on the Polish state tv to end its spread of disinformation against Bawolek.
The leaders of the EPP gathered in Brussels ahead of the European Council to discuss urgent matters, most importantly the current energy crisis and Russia’s war against Ukraine. Dorota Bawolek had arranged an exclusive interview with Donald Tusk, former European Council president, current president of the EPP and leader of Civic Platform (PO). The interview had in focus the 2014 “spying/corruption scandal” in Poland which triggered the downfall of the Polish government in 2015.
After the EPP meeting, Tusk was expected to be interviewed live on air by Bawolek. As many other journalists had gathered waiting to score interviews, Bawolek politely explained that the interview with Tusk was exclusive to Polsat. A cameraman, allegedly assigned by TVP, a Polish Public TV Broadcaster, but without logos on any of the equipment, refused to move away. Bawolek requested the state TV employee to stop recording, which was met with another refusal. Bawolek then turned to Tusk and asked if he wanted to speak to TVP, to which he replied “No”. Later, the video recording was manipulated into a deliberately edited segment in which Bawolek appeared as prohibiting other journalists’ right to an interview with Tusk.
Subsequently, Bawolek became the subject of hate messages on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. She received death threats and was accused of being a defender of Tusk and his mistress. The Brussels-based International Press Association API/IPA came in defense of Bawolek. This is an all too common occurrence for women journalists and it has grave consequences in many cases. The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends its support to Dorota Bawolek. We urge TVP to set the record straight and give credit to Bawolek for the interview.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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