Media Freedom Poll

2023 survey uncovers public attitudes across the V4

The poll reveals growing concern over the state of media freedom, particularly in Poland and Slovakia. The war in Ukraine has seen people attach greater importance to truthful and accurate news.
Growing alarm over Central Europe’s media freedom
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Government and business seen as biggest threats

4 023 people were polled across Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary, between 6th – 21st March 2023, using both phone and online interviews to ensure a representative measure of opinion. The study reveals that concerns about media freedom have significantly risen in Slovakia and Poland, with 71% of respondents in Poland expressing concern, an 8% increase compared to last year.

In Poland and Hungary, the government is viewed as the biggest threat to media freedom, while in Czech Republic and Slovakia, media owners and business interests are considered the main threat.

Strong support exists for media independence from the government, unlinking media from political parties, and ensuring truthful, factually accurate content.

YouTube Video

"The more room for the media, the less for the dictatorship."

Adam Michnik, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza.

Watch the highlights from the Media Freedom Poll 2023 presentation and panel debate at Gazeta Wyborcza in Warsaw.

Meet our panel

Committee for Editorial Independence

Tessa Szyszkowitz, UK

Václav Štětka, Czechia

 

European Commission

Věra Jourová

 

Gazeta Wyborcza

Bartosz T. Wieliński, Poland

 

Telex

Veronika Munk, Hungary

Reporters Without Borders

Erhard Stackl, Austria

Dorota Nygren, Poland

 

Economia

Martin Ehl, Czechia

 

Bakala Foundation

Václav Pecha, Czechia

 

Watch the full video of the presentation and panel debate

YouTube Video

“As the European Commission works towards gaining EU-wide consensus on the need for a European Media Freedom Act, these findings show the public are ahead of the politicians in demanding action to protect journalistic values and independence.”

Dr. Tessa Szyszkowitz, Chair of the Committee for Editorial Independence

Presentation

Presentation of the 2023 poll results
(PDF, English)
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Press Release

Concerns mount over media freedoms in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia
(PDF, English)
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Obavy o svobodu médií v Polsku, Maďarsku, České republice a na Slovensku rostou
(PDF, Czech)
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Rosną obawy o wolność mediów w Polsce, Czechach, na Węgrzech i na Słowacji
(PDF, Polish)
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Egyre több aggodalom veszi körül a sajtószabadság helyzetét Lengyelországban, Magyarországon, a Cseh Köztársaságban és Szlovákiában
(PDF, Hungarian)
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Nad slobodou médií v Poľsku, Maďarsku, Českej republike a na Slovensku sa kopia obavy
(PDF, Slovak)
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How To Go Forward

Addressing Public Concern over Media Freedom
(PDF, English)
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The media freedom survey is an initiative of the Committee for Editorial Independence in cooperation with the Reporters Without Borders Austria and Gazeta Wyborcza, and supported by the Bakala Foundation.