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About OKO.press

OKO.press in a nutshell:

  • modern, awarded, independent civic medium, that keeps a close eye on the authorities; in the top of online media outlets in Poland
  • fighting disinformation and propaganda with investigative journalism, fact-checking and debunking;
  • main topics: rule of law, democracy, civil society, human rights, LGBTQA+, climate change, economy;
  • only exclusive, ad-free content: written and multimedia; strong social media (benchmark: biggest online outlets in Poland);
  • community: engaged, supportive (over 70% of our income funded by readers) and constantly growing;
OKO.press team during an editorial meeting

Why do you need OKO.press?

Imagine a place in the heart of Europe, where democracy prevails, the government understands that the society thrives only when their rights are respected and the rule of law is not only a phrase that rhymes only with “backsliding” or “crisis”. Imagine a place where we gather to celebrate together and not to protest to protect ourselves and other people.

We believe that Poland could be such a place.

But to make it happen we need something that every democracy, young and old one, needs: independent, reliable media. This is an ever-unfulfilling need because every government has to have an eye which will control it.

We are a civic tool to control the government. The current one and every one after it.

VOICES OF THE SOCIETY

OKO.press is a voice of those who feel their rights are not respected and the fundamental freedoms are at risk. We have witnessed and are witnessing plenty of protests – opponents of the destruction of the judiciary, the curtailment of women's rights, the inhumane treatment of refugees or sexual minorities have taken to the streets and continue to do so.

FACTS, DATA AND TRUST

OKO.press is the place where we give voice to activists, minorities and all those fighting for a better tomorrow. While presenting reliable, verified and factual information, referring to data and scientific expertise, we also do not escape from telling stories about people. Hence, in addition to fact checking and chronicles of the destruction of the rule of law in Poland, you can find reports or stories about SLAPP victims. In this way, we want to create a trustworthy place in OKO.press.

THE TEAM & THE READERS

At OKO.press people with different experiences and views come together, but we always approach each other with respect. Working together, we try to understand each other's points, and even if we argue, it is within the limits of the discussion culture. This is also the kind of place we want to be for our readers. We also look forward to your comments, criticism, additions, suggestions. We guarantee anonymity to anyone willing to share what they know.

We value cross-generational experience sharing: our team members' age ranges from 21 to 74, representing 3 generations: Millennials, Baby Boomers and Gen Z. Gender proportions among management are equalized with a slight majority of women. Our audience also shares similar gender proportions.

Speaking of readers, you probably see that you can read us in Polish, English and Ukrainian for free – no paywall, no ads and/or sponsored content. This is possible thanks to our readers – each amount donated for us is a step forward for a more democratic country for all of us. You too can become a donor – it’s easy: we operate via PayU, PayPal.

For additional information on how an institutional support is crucial for independent media in CEE region, please contact our Grants Manager, Kamila Michalak.
[email protected]
OKO.press team during an editorial meeting

Awards/Prizes

2024
Pióro Nadziei (Pen of Hope) Amnesty International Poland
OKO.press Deputy Editor Magdalena Chrzczonowicz is a finalist for the award
Newsweek's Teresa Torańska Awards
Maria Pankowska nominated in the category „Best Press Journalism”
Distinction of the Jerzy Boniecki Polcul Foundation
Katarzyna Kojzar was honoured for her „uncompromising and consistent publicity of the authorities' negligence in the area of environmental protection, including the Oder catastrophe”
2023
Crystal Pen
Honorable mention to Slawomir Zagorski for the article , „To the heart hug the dog. Why hundreds of thousands of Poles die at their own request and how to change it?”
Polish-German Tadeusz Mazowiecki Journalism Prize
Katarzyna Kojzar for her reportage „The river flows and dies. Is the fight for the Oder River lost in advance?”
Radio ZET Andrzej Woyciechowski Award
OKO.press Deputy Editor Magdalena Chrzczonowicz nominated for award for series of publications about refugee crisis on the border with Belarus
Prof. Roman Czernecki Award
Nomination for Maria Hawranek
Prof. Roman Czernecki Award
Nomination for Maria Hawranek
2022
Teresa Toranska Award
Dorota Borodaj laureate of the Newsweek magazine award
Grand Press
Nomination: Joanna Łopat in the press/internet reportage category
Pióro Nadziei (Pen of Hope)
OKO.press editor Agnieszka Jędrzejczyk laureate of the Amnesty International award
Inge Feltrinelli Award
Agata Kubis, OKO.press photojournalist, for her series of photos from the Polish-Belarusian border
Sensitive Festival in Gdynia
Award to Szymon Opryszek and Dorota Borodaj for OKO.press reports
2021
Grand Press - Investigative journalism
Nomination: Sebastian Klauziński (with Konrad Szczygieł, Wojciech Cieśla and Jacek Harłukowicz) for the cycle „Układ Wrocławski” (Wrocław Pact)
Association of Polish Judges 'Iustitia' Award
For Mariusz Jałoszewski for writing on how Polish judges fight for the rule of law
Pióro Nadziei (Pen of Hope)
Journalist prize of Amnesty International for Szymon Opryszek
2020
Freedom of Expression
Award for OKO.press for protecting the freedom of speech in Poland;
2019
Radio Zet A. Woyciechowski Award
Bianka Mikołajewska with the title of „Journalist of the Decade 2010-2019”
2018
Grand Press - News
Nomination: Konrad Szczygieł and Sebastian Klauziński for texts on money from Justice Fund
Grand Press - News
Nomination: Bianka Mikołajewska for cycle „Political police”
Radio Zet A. Woyciechowski Award
Nomination for Bianka Mikołajewska for a cycle on police surveillance
Pióro Nadziei (Pen of Hope)
Journalist prize of Amnesty International for Anton Ambroziak
2016
Grand Press
Journalist of the year: Bianka Mikołajewska
Grand Press - News
Prize for cycle on so-called „Misiewicz's case” by Konrad Radecki-Mikulicz and Stanisław Skarżyński
Grand Press - News
Nomination: Bianka Mikołajewska and Konrad Szczygieł

Transparency / The Foundation

OKO.press is published by Foundation Centre for Civic Control OKO (Polish and official name: Fundacja Centrum Kontroli Obywatelskiej OKO). The foundation was established on March 10, 2016, and the court registered it - under the KRS number 0000620036 - on June 1, 2016.

"The main purpose of the Foundation's activities is to protect and multiply the achievements of the Republic of Poland as a democratic state of law, to uphold the principles of democracy and the freedoms and rights of man and citizen."

The Foundation's Council is composed of Prof. Monika Płatek, Prof. Ewa Łętowska, Jarosław Kurski, Jerzy Baczynski and Jacek Kucharczyk. The Foundation's Board of Directors is formed by Piotr Pacewicz (president) and Toko Anna Okazaki-Pindur (board member). On January 28, 2019, the Foundation obtained the status of a Public Benefit Organization.

The OKO.press portal is a press title, registered in the register of daily newspapers and magazines, maintained by the District Court in Warsaw, under the number Pr 19832.