Market changes and evolution of publishing format of daily press in Poland between 1990-2004 (tentative characterisation and evaluation)

Wiesław Sonczyk

The fact that fifteen years have passed since the process of transformation of the Polish media system provides an opportunity to recapitulate and evaluate changes in each of the media categories. The article attempts to illustrate the scope, form and rate of transformation of daily press. In the first half of the 1990's the market of daily papers underwent incredibly dynamic changes, because new publishers assumed that they would easily drive out of business titles which had been appearing in the period of PRL (Peoples' Republic of Poland). The assumption turned out to be unfounded. However, the most significant qualitative changes were brought about by the launch of "Fakt" - a tabloid that initiated the process of evolution of the publishing format of many daily papers, especially regional ones. Independently of any qualitative changes the market of daily papers is undergoing two parallel processes of concentration and consolidation, both of which are visible especially in regional press.

KEYWORDS

Polish media system, daily papers, transformation of the press