Let me start with a simple idea.

Something we used to hold as self-evident — that a well-informed public is the foundation of a functioning democracy.

Now that may sound like common sense. But in today’s media landscape — in a world shaped by algorithms, echo chambers, and disinformation — that simple truth is under threat.

Because what we watch, what we read, and what we believe is being shaped less by shared facts, and more by private interests, hidden agendas, and sometimes outright lies.

I want to talk about a few things tonight.

I want to talk about the importance of free and trustworthy content. About the art of making documentaries — with curiosity, not propaganda. About the responsibility of public service television. And about how we can — and must — fight back against disinformation. Because the health of our democracy depends on it.

I. Free Access to Trustworthy, Public Service Content

You know, when I was growing up, we didn’t have a hundred channels.
We had ONE. It might have been a little boring but we could rely on one thing. There were some programs that were there to serve us — the public. They weren’t there to sell ads or push an agenda, but to educate, to inform, to unite.

Public service broadcasting gave us the facts. It gave us science. It gave us history. It gave us stories about who we were — and who we could be. And today, that idea is under pressure.

Budgets are being slashed. Journalists are stretched thin. And the public? They're left to navigate a sea of content — some true, a lot of it not. 

So here's the thing:

We need to protect and expand free access to trustworthy content. That means investing in public media. It means supporting independent journalism. And yes — it means holding tech platforms accountable when they profit from misinformation.

II. The Art of Making Documentaries—with Curiosity, Not an Agenda

Now, let’s talk about storytelling.

There’s an art to making a good documentary. It’s not just about pointing a camera and saying “Look.” It’s about listening. It’s about wondering. It’s about seeking the truth — even when it's uncomfortable.

But too often now, we see something else. Stories shaped not by curiosity, but by outrage, ideology and tribalism. That’s not storytelling, that’s marketing and manipulation.

True documentary filmmaking isn’t about proving a point. It’s about asking better questions. It’s about stepping into someone else’s shoes,not shouting from a soapbox.

When we lose that — we lose the ability to see each other clearly. We lose empathy. We lose the full picture of who we are.

III. The Responsibility of Public Service TV—and Its Marginalization

Now, in many countries, including this one (Poland), Public service TV has a special obligation. It’s not just to entertain. It’s to educate, to represent and to elevate the national conversation.

But let’s be honest — in recent years, public service TV has been pushed to the margins. It’s been defunded, criticized, politicized. And too often, replaced by content that’s cheaper, louder, more profitable.

We need to change that.

Because when we neglect public service content, we leave a vacuum. And nature — and the internet — abhors a vacuum. What rushes in? Fake news. Conspiracies. Clickbait. Division.

Which brings me to my next point.

IV. Fighting Disinformation and Fake News

Disinformation is not new, but in the age of social media, it moves faster. It hits harder and it sticks.

We’ve seen what happens when lies spread unchecked. Public health collapses. Elections are undermined. Communities fracture. Violence follows.

Let me be clear. Disinformation is not just annoying — it’s dangerous. It’s a threat to public trust. A threat to democratic conversation. And ultimately, a threat to the very idea of a free and democratic world.

So how do we fight back?

With truth. With transparency. With education. And with strong, independent, public interest media. Because you can’t fight lies with silence. You fight lies with the light.

V. A Global Perspective—and a Warning

I just came back from a trip to New Zealand, and I was surprised to find I could only access ONE news channel. The only news available was Al Jazeera.

Now look — Al Jazeera has done some important journalism, but it is also funded by a state with its own interests. And when a single perspective dominates the airwaves — even a high-quality one — we should be asking: Whose story are we hearing? And whose are we not? 

Because when global perspectives are shaped by regional powers — when the news we see is funded by the agenda of a government rather than the needs of the people — we run the risk of turning news into soft power instead of public service.

That’s why public media matters. That’s why editorial independence matters. That’s why having a diversity of trustworthy sources matters.

Closing: The Stakes

So let’s remember what’s at stake.

This isn’t just about documentaries. It’s not just about media. It’s about our ability to understand the world around us. As it is. To make informed choices and to disagree without tearing each other apart.

Democracy is noisy. It’s messy. It’s imperfect. But it only works when people can see clearly, speak freely, and act with knowledge — not manipulation.

So let’s protect that clarity. Let’s support stories told with curiosity — not cynicism. Let’s invest in truth. Because when we do, we’re not just saving journalism. We’re saving democracy itself.

I would like to finish with a quote from Susan Sontag:

“Do stuff. Be clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration's shove or society's kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It's all about paying attention. Attention is vitality. It connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”

And I hope for an eagerness to show real life and make a distinction between emotional truth and factual reality. 

Thank you.

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