Controversy after the TVN report. “Such a presentation misleads and manipulates viewers”

On Saturday, March 14, TVN’s “Fakty” featured material on the real estate market in Poland. Journalist Dominika Ziółkowska appeared in it at a real estate fair in Gdynia, where she talked to a seemingly ordinary couple looking for a property.

“Young married couple” in a reportage about the real estate market. The couple was unmasked

– Mr. and Mrs. Kolasek are a young married couple with a dream of having their own apartment – ​​the reporter introduced her interlocutors. – You have to look for it, there is no other option – said the couple in front of the camera. – It should be spacious, warm and nice – emphasized Marta Kolaska, mentioning the government loan program without own contribution. – A person is just starting this life, so where do they suddenly have the savings to buy an apartment for PLN 14,000 per square meter and up? – asked her husband Paweł, angry at the market prices.

However, alert viewers learned that the marriage shown in the TVN material is itself related to the industry. Information appeared on the Internet that Marta Kolaska is a sales support specialist in one of the development companies. Social media reacted with ridicule, but also with sample letters of complaint to the National Broadcasting Council.

Complaints to the National Broadcasting Council after the reportage of “Fakty” TVN

“The material in question presents Marta Kolaska and her husband as an example of a young couple looking for their own apartment. The couple was shown as typical potential customers at real estate fairs, expressing interest in purchasing in the context of rising prices and availability of loans,” it was emphasized.

“Viewers were led to believe that this was a genuine, independent opinion of ordinary citizens, which was intended to illustrate the alleged recovery in the housing market and encourage viewers to make similar decisions,” one of the complaints noted.

“The material is unreliable, lacks objectivity and pluralism of views – it focuses on a positive image of the market (record lending, price increases), omitting critical aspects such as refinancing or potential risks. Such a presentation misleads viewers, manipulating public opinion and violating trust in the media,” it added.

The author of the popular online complaint asked for:

• Initiation of explanatory proceedings regarding the violation of the principles of journalistic ethics and the provisions of the Broadcasting Act by the TVN station.

• Calling the editors of “Fakty” TVN for explanations, including reasons for concealing information about Marta Kolaska’s possible connections with the development industry.

• Imposition of an appropriate penalty on the broadcaster, including a possible obligation to correct the information in subsequent editions of the “Fakty TVN” program.

• Notification of the results of the proceedings.

The developer has submitted a post

After the material was published, the company sent its position to the editorial office of “Wprost”. We read in it that “the person appearing in the material is an employee of Dekpol Deweloper, but on the day of the event she did not perform official duties or represent the company. She participated in the fair in her free time, privately, with her husband. In the material, she speaks as a private person, interested in purchasing an apartment, and refers only to her own life plans.”

The developer swears that it was not promotional material.

“We firmly deny any suggestions appearing in the public space that the material was arranged, promotional or a form of covert advertising for the company. The statement was given spontaneously, at the reporter’s request, during the event,” we read in the company’s statement.

The company defends its employees

According to the developer, there was a violation of personal rights because “data identifying our employee was illegally disseminated on the Internet, including her name and surname, place of work and position, as well as the use of her image without her consent,” the company believes.

As he reports, their employee received an avalanche of unflattering comments.

“What is particularly outrageous is the scale of the reaction our employee received after the publication of the material. There were numerous offensive comments, vulgarities, as well as intimidating and threatening entries on the Internet. Such actions are unacceptable and constitute a serious violation of personal rights and the sense of security of a private person,” reads the statement from Dekpol Deweloper.

The company emphasizes that it “opposes the dissemination of false information, manipulating the context of statements and using the image of our employees in a way that violates personal rights.” It also declares that “in situations where the personal rights or safety of our employees are violated, the company reserves the right to use protection measures provided for by law.”