The National
Broadcasting Council

In the photo, from left: Member of the jury, Rev. Dr Sławomir Soczyński, Professor at the Pontifical University of John Paul II; Winner of the Award in the category for the best scientific or popular science publication, Dr  Paweł Urbaniak; Chairman of the National Broadcasting Council, Maciej Świrski; Chairwoman of the Jury, Member of the National Broadcasting Council, Dr Hanna Karp, Professor at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design; Winner of the award in the category for the best doctoral dissertation, Dr Weronika Dopierała-Kalińska; Honourable mentions: Dr Beata Użarowska and Dr Paweł Nowak.

The Dr Paweł Stępka Award was presented to the following person by decision of the jury:

1. Dr Weronika Dopierała-Kalińska, for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of electronic media entitled: ‘Informacja w internecie. Zawartość polskich mediów informacyjnych online w kontekście oddziaływania nowych technologii’ ('Information on the Internet'). The content of Polish online news media in the context of the impact of new technologies’), supervised by Prof. Szymon Ossowski PhD of Adam Mickiewicz University.

‘Dr Dopierała-Kalińska's dissertation stands out for its innovative approach to the relationship between technology and society in the context of the production and distribution of information on the internet. The work makes a significant contribution to the development of Polish media studies, broadening knowledge about the processes of media convergence and the interactivity and social dimension of communication technologies. At the same time, the analyses and conclusions contained within are of practical importance for the further development of electronic media, as well as for reflection on the future of journalism in an era of dynamic technological change', said Dr Szymon Ossowski, Professor at Adam Mickiewicz University.

2. Dr hab Paweł Urbaniak won the award for the best scientific or popular science publication in the field of electronic media for his book: ‘System odpowiedzialności mediów w Polsce na tle systemów w innych krajach’ (‘The media accountability system in Poland compared to systems in other countries’), published by Wrocław University Press.

‘ (…) The book presents the results of research based on 110 interviews with Polish media employees. Almost 80% of respondents said that various forms of media regulation restrict their freedom and that in Poland they are also used for political purposes. Urbaniak presents his own classification of media self-regulation tools, taking into account the press, radio, television, and the internet. He also discusses how the creation of a media accountability system is becoming part of journalistic culture and noticeably influencing the daily behaviour of journalists. The book provides a thorough discussion of the theoretical and systemic issues of establishing media self-regulation standards and also refers to the practical aspects of how the media and journalists function in the contemporary media system.’ — Author

Honourable Mentions

Due to the high standard of all the entries submitted to this year's competition, the jury decided to award honourable mentions to the following:

• Dr Paweł Nowak for his doctoral thesis in electronic media entitled: ‘Formy aktywności TVN w Internecie oraz dywersyfikacja kanałów dystrybucji treści’ (‘Forms of TVN's activity on the internet and the diversification of content distribution channels’), supervised by Prof. Weronika Świerczyńska-Głownia PhD of Jagiellonian University.

In addition, Dr Hanna Karp, Chair of the Award Committee and member of the National Broadcasting Council, awarded an honourable distinction to:

• Dr Beata Użarowska for her dissertation entitled: ‘Polityzacja Telewizji Polskiej jako instrument realizacji polityki historycznej Prawa i Sprawiedliwości’ (The Politicisation of Telewizja Polska as an Instrument for Implementing the Historical Policy of the Law and Justice party'), supervised by Prof. Dorota Piontek and Prof. Artur Lipiński, both of the Adam Mickiewicz University.

Certificates of Recognition

Certificates of recognition were awarded to:

• Prof. Szymona Ossowski (PhD), Adam Mickiewicz University, for supervising the doctoral thesis of Dr Weronika Dopierała-Kalińska, which was honoured with the KRRiT Dr Paweł Stępka Award in the category for the best doctoral dissertation in the field of electronic media.
• The University of Wrocław Publishing House was recognised for publishing the book by Dr Paweł Urbaniak, the winner of the KRRiT Award named after Dr Paweł Stępka in the category for the best scientific or popular science publication in the field of electronic media.

The composition of the Dr Paweł Stępka Award Committee in 2025 is as follows:

• Dr Hanna Karp (Chair of the Jury and Member of the National Broadcasting Council), Professor at AKSiM ( College of Social and Media Culure in Toruń);
• Prof. Janusz Adamowski and Prof. Jan Garlicki (co-organisers of the Competition), Faculty of Journalism, Information and Bibliology, University of Warsaw;
• Dr Dagmara Głuszek-Szafraniec, Deputy Director of the Institute of Journalism and Media Communication, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia;
• Prof. Iwona Hofman, Director of the Institute of Social Communication and Media Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, President of the Polish Society for Social Communication;
• Rev. Krzysztof Marcyński, Institute of Media Education and Journalism, Faculty of Theology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University;
• Prof. Teresa Sasińska-Klas, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, Jagiellonian University in Krakow
• Rev. Sławomir Soczyński SDS, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow
• Dr Stanisław Stępka, Professor at the Vistula Academy of Finance and Business and representative of the family of Dr Paweł Stępka
• Marcin Świerżewski, attorney, representative of Dr Paweł Stępka's colleagues at the University of Warsaw
• Prof. Dr hab Tadeusz Wallas, Rector's Representative for University Development at the Faculty of Political Science and Journalism at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
• Albert Woźniak, Secretary of the Jury at the Office of the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT)