International conference of experts examines threats to the future of public broadcasters.           

Report by Slawek Szefs 

Officials and experts, mostly from European broadcasting organizations, gathered in Warsaw to discuss the widespread problem of underfunding of public media and frequent attempts of subjecting them to political pressure. 
 

Polish realities in this respect seem to be representive of these phenomena for some years now. The conference has been held at a time when public media in Poland are suffering an unprecedented financial crisis resulting from political squabbles over their management and disputed influence of specific groups of interests. Also, protracted government inertia in finding adequate funding schemes to guarantee stability of public radio and television operations.