The work
In Poland, independent news outlet Wirtualna Polska Holding (WP) has established itself as a leading force in exposing abuses of power and holding senior officials to account. Through a series of high-impact investigations published over the past few years, WP journalists have revealed conflicts of interest, misuse of public resources and retaliation against whistleblowers at the highest levels of government.
One of the most significant exposés revealed the actions of Science Minister Dariusz Wieczorek, who was found to have disclosed the identity of a whistleblower within the University of Szczecin. The whistleblower, a trade unionist at the university, had confidentially reported alleged financial irregularities at the institution. Instead of acting to protect her, Wieczorek exposed her identity to the university rector, triggering a campaign of retaliation. WP’s reporting brought the issue to national attention and led to Wieczorek’s resignation just days after publication.
In another investigation WP journalists uncovered a serious conflict of interest involving Deputy Development Minister Jacek Tomczak. While publicly supporting a government housing subsidy program expected to benefit developers, Tomczak’s private notary office was simultaneously profiting from being in business with those same developers. Between 2020 and 2024, his office prepared more than 3,600 legal documents, including more than 1,700 apartment sales, generating millions of złotys in revenue. The deals often involved his own family members and were tied to property developments in the Poznań region. Shortly after the investigation was published, the Minister stepped down from his post.
Another WP investigation revealed that Deputy Justice Minister Bartłomiej Ciążyński had used a fuel card belonging to a state research institute to pay for petrol while on vacation in Slovenia. When approached by journalists, he denied the allegations and claimed to have paid for the expenses out of his pocket, but documentation obtained by WP contradicted his account. The story triggered widespread criticism, prompting Ciążyński to resign.
Impact
WP’s investigations and the subsequent resignations of three senior government officials set an extraordinary example of public interest reporting driving direct accountability in the higher echelons of power.
By revealing corruption and misuse of office through detailed, well-sourced investigations, WP has helped reinforce public scrutiny of institutions and defended the rights of whistleblowers and citizens. Each story exposed not only individual misconduct but also helped raise ethical standards in public life.
The speed and scale of response to WP’s findings reflect the strength of its journalism and its position as a trusted source of independent news in Poland. These cases also underscore the crucial role of independent media in safeguarding transparency and the rule of law, particularly in environments where public trust in institutions is under strain.
WP’s contribution to public interest reporting has been widely recognized. In 2024, its journalists received top national awards, including the Grand Press Prize and the Dariusz Fikus Award for capturing the horrors of the war in Ukraine.