Dorota Bawolek (also spelled Dorota Bawołek) is a Polish journalist. She is a former Brussels correspondent of Polish television channel Polsat.
Dorota Bawolek | |
|---|---|
 Dorota Bawolek in 2013 | |
| Born | 1982 (age 41–42)[1] Poland |
| Education | Birmingham City University |
| Occupation(s) | journalist, podcaster |
Career
editBawolek studied European integration in Poland. Following her studies, she completed an internship in Brussels. Bawolek was discouraged from entering politics when faced with the reality of the lengthy legislative process that she witnessed during her initial time in Brussels.[2]
She subsequently studied broadcast journalism at Birmingham City University.[3] She wrote for the BBC about Polish people living in the UK while living in London.[4][5]
In 2008, Bawolek became the correspondent of Polsat in Brussels.[3] Bawolek's time as correspondent for Polsat ended in 2023.
Under the Law and Justice (PiS) government rule in Poland, Bawolek has been subject to repeated hate and intimidation campaigns by the far right.[6] The campaigns were instigated by Polish state media broadcaster TVP, who is considered to be controlled by the ruling party PiS.[7][8]
Controversy
edit2017
editOn 14 July 2017, the Polish national broadcaster TVP attacked Bawolek because of a question she asked at the press conference of the European Commission in Brussels on the previous day.[9] Bawolek had insisted the European Commission spokesperson react to developments in Poland relating to a reform of the judicial system by the ruling party PiS. The reforms, widely seen as anti-democratic,[10] did not initially receive any condemnation by the European Commission, leading Bawolek to use a provocative tone with the European Commission's spokesperson when asking her question.[11][7] TVP reproached Bawolek for her questions, which the broadcaster described as "harmful for Poland".
The hate campaign against Bawolek was condemned within days by the European Commission's spokesperson as inacceptable.[12]
On 18 July 2017, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe published an alert in regard to alleged online threats made against Bawolek.[13][14]
The Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, defended Bawolek. She was, according to him, doing her job by asking questions in the press room of the European Commission.[15] Other top politicians at the European Commission that expressed support for Bawolek included the Vice president of the European Commission, Vera Jourova.[16]
2022
editIn October 2022, Bawolek agreed to an exclusive interview with the leader of Polish opposition party Civic Platform, Donald Tusk. The live interview was to take place directly after a summit of the European People's Party in Brussels, as Tusk and other political leaders left the meeting. A Polish journalist from TVP tried to interfere with Bawolek's interview of Tusk and recorded Bawolek objecting to their presence, all without disclosing their identity. The recording was subsequently aired on TVP in an edited format, with commentary accusing Bawolek of preventing TVP from access to Tusk. The broadcast triggered an online hate campaign against Bawolek, including violent messages posted on her social media.[8]
The Brussels-based International Press Association (API) expressed their support to Bawolek.[17] The API's message was echoed by the European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, who expressed his full support for Bawolek and condemned the smear campaign she faced.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Staying slim as a Pole". The Times. July 29, 2006. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
- ^ "A day in the life of a Brussels correspondent". EUObserver. July 21, 2011. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b c jk (May 8, 2023). "Ruszył brukselski podcast Doroty Bawołek. Na razie wspierają go trzy osoby" [Dorota Bawołek's Brussels podcast has been launched. Currently, it is supported by three people]. Wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Journalist Dorota Bawolek: 'Many Belgian news stories have a Polish link'". BRUZZ. Brussels. February 27, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Shropshire's Polish community". BBC. Shropshire. April 2, 2006. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Smyth, Patrick (July 18, 2017). "Poles face international protests over attempts to muzzle judiciary". The Irish Times. Brussels.
- ^ a b Gotev, Georgi (July 17, 2017). "State-controlled Polish TV instigated hate against Brussels journalist". Euractiv. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
State-controlled television TVP, which has become a mouthpiece for PiS
- ^ a b Gotev, Georgi (October 24, 2022). "Polish state TV instigates hate campaign against Brussels journalist". Euractiv. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Gotev, Georgi (July 17, 2017). "State-controlled Polish TV instigated hate against Brussels journalist". Euractiv. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Davies, Christian (December 8, 2017). "Polish MPs pass judicial bills amid accusations of threat to democracy". The Guardian. Warsaw. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Iwaniuk, Jakub (July 18, 2017). "En Pologne, le gouvernement ultraconservateur harcèle les journalistes" [In Poland, the ultraconservative government is harassing journalists]. Le Monde (in French). Warsaw. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Georis, Vincent (July 18, 2017). "Une journaliste polonaise menacée de mort" [A Polish journalist received death threats]. L’Echo (in French). Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "The information provided by the Polish Authorities' concerning the examination of the case of online threats towards the journalist Ms Dorota Bawołek". Council of Europe. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Polish Journalist Receives Death Threats After Public Polish TV Classifies Her Remarks As "Harmful to Poland"". Safety of Journalists Platform. Council of Europe. July 18, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Polish journalist receives death threats after public Polish TV classifies her remarks as "harmful to Poland"". European Federation of Journalists. July 18, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Wiceszefowa KE ujmuje się za dziennikarką Polsatu. "Ma pani moje wsparcie"" [The Vice President the European Commission stands up for the Polsat journalist. "You have my support"]. Wirtualnemedia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ "Poland: Polsat Journalist Dorota Bawolek Has Become The Target Of A Disinformation Campaign Leading To Death Threats". CFWIJ. Poland. October 20, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ Grzegorczyk, Łukasz (October 25, 2022). "Mocne wsparcie z Brukseli dla reporterki Polsatu. Europejski komisarz broni jej po ataku TVP" [Strong support from Brussels for the Polsat reporter. A European Commissioner defends her after the TVP attack]. na:Temat (in Polish). Retrieved June 25, 2023.