The polarization of media coverage has been at the center of research on political communication, media studies, and the quality of public life for years. Researchers are particularly interested in cases where public media become a tool for political rivalry and the expression of ideological divisions. Poland, due to the profound and dynamic institutional changes that have taken place in recent years and the structure of its media system (division into public and private media), which makes public media dependent on the party currently in power, provides a critical context for analyzing this phenomenon.The research aimed to analyze whether and how the replacement of the main news program “Wiadomości” on Polish public television TVP 1 with a new program. “19:30” after the 2023 parliamentary elections (when democratic parties gained power and the conservative party lost) contributed to the deepening of polarization in the media and society in Poland. The analysis was based on a study of viewers' perceptions, allowing the significance of this change to be captured from the audience's perspective. The results indicate that the change in TVP 1's news program from “Wiadomości” to the new program “19:30” did not bring about the expected depolarization of the public media. Respondents perceive intense polarization in media coverage, with 71.9% believing that the public media contribute to the division of society. The conclusions suggest that instead of acting as a social connector, the media often becomes a political tool, increasing social and political tensions. The study is part of a broader.

Authors:
Emilia Zakrzewska, University of Warsaw, Poland
Martyna Dudziak Kisio, SWPS University, Poland

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Emilia Zakrzewska is currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Journalism, Information and Bibliology at the University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliazak/

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