History of the Polish Journalists Association (SDP)
The Polish Journalists Association (SDP) was established in 1951. It replaced the Trade Union of Journalists of the Republic of Poland which continued the pre-war traditions. Until 1982, it was the only organization uniting journalists in Poland.
Twice over the second half of the 20th century, the Association played a vital role in the country’s life. In October 1956, it took part in the attempt to democratize the system of the Polish People’s Republic. In 1980-1981, it actively cooperated with the “Solidarity” movement.
In 1981, after martial law had been declared in Poland, the Association was unlawfully dissolved and in 1982 it was banned. All of its assets, including the Journalists House in Warsaw, were forfeited and transferred to the Association of Journalists of the Polish People’s Republic (currently the Association of Journalists of the Republic of Poland, SDRP) set up to replace the SDP. During the martial law, the Association continued its activity to defend the truth and journalistic independence, although a number of journalists were arrested, interned or devoid of their rights to exercise the profession. SDP operated clandestinely, journalists published underground papers, and cooperated with democratic opposition.
In 1989, SDP regained the right to operate legally. However, it was only in 2001 that the Social Commission of Repossession granted to SDP the right to repossess the forfeited assets.
SDP is a member of the Conference of Polish Media. Following its initiative, the Media Ethics Charter was adopted in 1995, and a Media Ethics Council was appointed thereunder. It consists of representatives of journalist organizations, press publishers, radio and television broadcasters.
SDP prepared a bill of a new press law, submitted to the Polish Parliament in 2001 and in the same year SDP’s activity contributed to passing the law on access to public information, supporting the bill developed by Adam Smith Research Centre.
SDP consists of independent units which fulfil the statutory aims of the Association. The Press Freedom Monitoring Center, set up in 1996, defends the freedom of speech and independence of media. The Free Word Study collects and develops archives concerning the journalistic activity during the martial law and documents current activity of SDP. SDP Journalist Mutual Aid Society acts as an employment agency for journalists.
SDP runs the repossessed Journalist House in Warsaw and the FOKSAL Press Centre operating at the House, as well as the Centre for Creative Work in Kazimierz Dolny.
Mission of the Polish Journalists Association
The Polish Journalists Association (SDP) is the oldest organization of journalists in Poland which enjoys the greatest authority. It actively tried to democratize the country in 1956 and 1980-1981, and belonged to democratic opposition during the martial law. Today, the Association actively participates in initiatives aimed to develop a State of law and civic society.
Pursuant to the provisions of its statutes, the Association is a non-profit voluntary, professional and creative association of journalists. Currently, it has 2,700 members. It has 16 local branches in the biggest towns and cities of Poland. SDP groups operate in press, radio, television and Internet editorial offices as well as information agencies.
The core statutory aims of SDP are: ensuring reliable media information to the society, supporting creative journalism, ensuring ethical behaviour among journalists and protecting the rights of journalists. Activities of the Association take various forms, including: conferences and seminars, discussions, contests for journalists, contacts with foreign organizations (SDP is a member of the International Federation of Journalists in Brussels).
For freedom and ethics
Since 1996, the Press Freedom Monitoring Center has been in operation within SDP. It defends the freedom of information in media. The Centre administers training for journalists, organizes debates, scientific conferences, publishes legal opinions and prepares drafts of legal acts which guarantee the freedom of speech. Relying on the experience of the Centre, the Head Office of SDP put forward e.g. the initiative for access to public information (passed by the Parliament in 2001), in respect of new press law and an amendment to the radio and television broadcasting act. One of the units operating under SDP is the Free Word Study, which collects and develops underground publications, papers and magazines of various periods, documents describing the activities of the Association, journalists’ biographical documents, etc.
The Polish Journalists Association takes particular care to ensure that journalists comply with the ethical rules and standards. It is a member of the Conference of Polish Media, a signatory of the Media Ethics Charter, and closely cooperates with the Media Ethics Council. The Association has developed its own Code of Journalism Ethics.
Awards and integration
Since 1993, the Head Office of SDP has organized prestigious contests in which the SDP Awards are granted to press, radio, television and Internet journalists. The awards are modelled on the American Pulitzer Prize. Additionally, the Association organizes or co-organizes other contests for journalists, such as: Podziemne Słowo (Underground Word), Dziennikarstwo w służbie dobra wspólnego (Journalism for the Common Good), Oczy Otwarte (Open Eyes), or a contest for publishers in agricultural sector.
The Head Office of SDP confers the “SDP Laurel” to outstanding journalists for their entire journalist activity. To date, the award was granted to: Maciej Łukasiewicz, Stefan Bratkowski, Ryszard Kapuściński, and Bohdan Tomaszewski. It also grants the anti-award entitled Hiena Roku (Vulture of the Year) for particular unreliability and disparagement of the principles of journalist ethics.
Additionally, creative clubs are active within SDP, whose members are journalists regardless of the association they belong to: EKOS Environmental Protection Publishers Club, European Journalists Club, Business Journalists Club, Club of Press Photography, Cultural Commentary Club, KACZKA Journalist Skiers Club.
The Association is also engaged in publishing activity. On its own, or in cooperation with other organizations, it has published such works as: the translation of BBC Journalism Handbook and the Handbook for Journalists of Central and Eastern Europe, books containing extracts of awarded competition papers published under common title of “The Best Press Texts” and “Sport is My Passion”. The books of reminiscences of war-time journalists (Tamte lata / Those Days), of the time of Polish People’s Republic (Wspomnienia niekontrolowane / Uncontrollable Reminiscences), and of the martial law (Słowo podziemne / Underground Word). The current activity of SDP is described in the magazine Forum Dziennikarzy (Journalists Forum), which additionally discusses important issues for journalists and media organizations.
