Media repolonization in Poland: from legislative concepts to the ownership transformation of Polska Press Group (2015–2021)

Abstract

In recent years, the Polish media system has faced significant changes, primarily related to the reform of public media and ownership transformations in the regional daily press sector. One of the key electoral promises of the Zjednoczona Prawica government (2015–2023) was the re-Polonization of the media. Despite the announcement of the re-Polonization/deconcentration act, it was never implemented. The only tangible result of years of discussions on its provisions was the acquisition of Polska Press Group assets by PKN Orlen Company from Verlagsgruppe Passau. This is a descriptive article aimed at presenting the chronology of events related to the re-Polonization of the Polish media in 2015–2021. The most important developments are categorized into two stages: conceptual and executive. The study draws on information and opinions from government and parliament members, as well as selected representatives of public institutions, which were published across media outlets with diversified profiles.