The book “Oko Prezesa” The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz, written by Monika Luft — a renowned television journalist who spent many years working at Telewizja Polska and an author of both literary and historical‑factual works — has been ranked 4th on the Unconventional Book List from Agencja Informacyjna. Now, Centralny Przystanek Historia is organizing a discussion with the author dedicated to this publication.
Monika Luft is known for writing books that are unconventional and deeply engaging. Her earlier works include The Argentine System (2006), Arab Escapade: From Emir Rzewuski to Krzysztof Jurgiel (2021), and Landscape with a Smuggler: How Works of Art and Antiques Were Smuggled Out of the PRL (2023). The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz, published in 2025, is a historical report that explores the inner workings of Polish Television during the era of the People’s Republic of Poland through the lens of its successive directors. It is a story about the people and the system in which the television screen was a key instrument of power. The publication was released by LTW Publishing House (short for Literature Is a Choice).
About “Oko Prezesa” / The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz
In “Oko Prezesa” / The Chairman’s Eye, Monika Luft tells a story about people and a system where the television screen was one of the most powerful tools of authority. The book explains the mechanisms of television operation at a time when media in Poland were under strict communist control, and during the martial law period were even managed by soldiers of the Polish People’s Army. Luft describes the history of Telewizja Polska through the prism of ten successive heads of the Committee for Radio and Television “Polish Radio and Television” (the earlier name being the Committee for Radio Broadcasting “Polish Radio,” colloquially known as Radiocommittee) — the institution responsible for controlling and organizing the work of state radio and television stations from 1951 to 1993. It should be noted that during this period there were no other broadcasters. Listening to foreign radio stations such as Radio Free Europe or the BBC was possible only if their signals were not jammed by the communist authorities. Under the communist regime, Polish Television broadcast only two television channels and only for a few hours each day. A similar restriction occurred in 2023 when Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz — then Minister of Culture and National Heritage — effectively placed Telewizja Polska into liquidation, halted program broadcasting, and replaced journalists. The period of the apparent liquidation of Telewizja Polska continues to this day.
Key Figures in “Oko Prezesa”
The central figures in “Oko Prezesa” The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz are the successive directors of Polish state television:
- Włodzimierz Sokorski (1956–1972)
- Maciej Szczepański (1972–1980) — infamously nicknamed “Bloody Maciek,” removed in scandal; a close associate of Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR)
- Józef Barecki (1980)
- Zdzisław Balicki (1980–1981)
- Władysław Loranc (1981–1982)
- Mirosław Wojciechowski (1982–1986)
- Janusz Roszkowski (1986–1989)
- Jerzy Urban (1989)
- Andrzej Drawicz (1989–1991) — the first non‑communist head of the Radiocommittee
Of these nine men, eight were communist officials; eight belonged to the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR). One served in the NKVD (People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the Soviet Union) — an institution notorious for mass repression, political terror, and crimes including the Katyn mass executions and the Polish Operation of the NKVD, as well as overseeing the Gulag system. Two were connected with Polish People’s Republic security services. One had ties to the anti‑communist opposition. Several considered themselves intellectuals; one truly was. Three wrote memoirs. Four experienced imprisonment: one in the Second Polish Republic, two in the People’s Republic of Poland, and one was interned during martial law.
Monika Luft — Event Details
A discussion with Monika Luft, author of “Oko Prezesa” The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz, will focus on media during the era of the Polish People’s Republic — when the Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR) ruled unchallenged. The conversation will address propaganda in official communist media, as well as the so‑called second circulation (samizdat, publications produced outside official censorship, underground press). The event will take place as part of the Faces of History series on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at Centralny Przystanek Historia (107 Marszałkowska Street, Warsaw). Dr. Grzegorz Majchrzak, historian (from the Historical Research Office of the Institute of National Remembrance), will also participate in the discussion.
About Monika Luft
Monika Luft is a journalist, columnist, and author — and in her childhood, an actress. She holds a degree in Hispanic Studies from the University of Warsaw and completed postgraduate studies at the War Studies University. Her television career began as a journalist with Spain’s public television TVE. She later worked at Telewizja Polska as a presenter for TVP1 continuity announcements and hosted the popular program Coffee or Tea?. After leaving TVP, she joined Tele 5, part of the Fincast media group, where she conducted interviews with stage and film personalities. From 2006 to 2020, Luft was editor‑in‑chief of polskiearaby.com, a portal for enthusiasts and breeders of Arabian horses.
Monika Luft — Books
Monika Luft debuted as a writer in 2004 with „Śmiech iguany” The Iguana’s Laughter (Arte Publishing). She followed this with „System argentyński” The Argentine System in 2006 (Świat Książki), Arabska awantura. Od Emira Rzewuskiego do Krzysztofa Jurgiela” Arab Escapade: From Emir Rzewuski to Krzysztof Jurgiel in 2021 (LTW Publishing), and „Pejzaż z przemytnikiem. Jak wywożono z PRL dzieła sztuki i antyki” Landscape with a Smuggler: How Works of Art and Antiques Were Smuggled Out of the PRL in 2023 (LTW Publishing). Her latest title, The Chairman’s Eye. Television in the People’s Republic of Poland from Sokorski to Drawicz, was published in 2025 by LTW.
Monika Luft — As an Actress
Few remember that Monika Luft was an actress in her youth. She appeared in three films: „Nie będę cię kochać”I Won’t Love You (as Agata, 1973), in the 12th episode of the TV series „Noce i dnie” Nights and Days (as Emilka, 1977), and “Kapitał czyli jak zrobić pieniądze w Polsce” Capital or How to Make Money in Poland (as Aniutka, 1989).
The Warsaw Review /KNN, Source: Agencja Informacyjna / 10.01.2026
