European Contexts Seminar Series
Poland:
Zuzanna Dąbrowska, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Polish News Agency (PAP)
Hungary: Gábor Polyák, media law expert, Eötvös Loránd University and
Róbert Vági, Deputy CEO, Central Media Group
Slovakia: Filip Struhárik,
journalist, Denník N
When: Wednesday, 13 May 2026, 09:30–11:30 CET
Where: In person at Presseclub Concordia, Bankgasse 8, 1010 Vienna and online
Registration Form (in person)
Registration Form (Zoom participation)
Program
Panel discussion (60 minutes), followed by Q&A (60 minutes)
Background
Media
is at the forefront of political change—whether from liberal to
illiberal systems or vice versa. It serves as a political tool to inform
and influence citizens. What happens when illiberal regimes are
defeated and high expectations arise?
Public broadcasters are
often the first targets during periods of radical political change. What
should be done with media institutions during such transformations?
Should laws be changed, or is the key issue their implementation? To
what extent does change depend on individuals? Should journalists
associated with propaganda be dismissed? Can public broadcasters survive
major political shifts? Can the same media system endure? And how can a
non-biased approach be maintained in a deeply divided society?
Speakers
Zuzanna
Dąbrowska is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Polish News Agency (PAP).
Previously, she worked for the leading daily Rzeczpospolita. She has
worked for various media outlets, taught at several universities, and
was active in the democratic opposition. She received a decoration for
her outstanding contributions to democratic transformation in Poland.
She lives in Warsaw.
Gábor Polyák is a professor of media law and
media policy and Head of the Media and Communication Department at
Eötvös Loránd University. He is also a senior research fellow at the
Institute for Legal Studies of the Centre for Social Sciences. In
addition, he is a researcher at Mérték Media Monitor, a Hungarian NGO
focusing on media policy issues. He lives in Budapest.
Róbert
Vági is Deputy CEO of Central Media Group, one of Hungary’s largest
independent media companies. He has been actively involved in industry
representation, serving as a board member of IAB Hungary from 2019 to
2021 and again since 2025. For many years, he has been featured on the
Top 50 Most Influential Media Executives list published by Marketing
& Media magazine. He lives in Budapest.
Filip Struhárik is a
reporter and editor at the Slovak newspaper Denník N. He mainly covers
topics related to media, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence.
He lives in Bratislava.
Moderator
Mirjana Tomic, fjum / Presseclub Concordia
Target Groups
Austrian and international journalists, think tank analysts, and academics
Participation
In-person participants at Presseclub Concordia: 60
Online participants: up to 100