PAP profit success prompts move towards privatization

The Polish Press Agency (PAP) is operating in the black for the first time in a decade. Having made zl.244,000 in 2000, PAP is this year expecting its profits to rise to zl.500,000. "As far as the media sector is concerned, we have reached nearly 100% market saturation. Everyone buys our products," says Igor Janke, editor-in-chief of PAP. Despite its success, the company does not intend to rest on its laurels. In a move described by the Gazeta Wyborcza daily as the world's first ever privatization of a national press agency, PAP is now actively seeking investors. Potential buyers include publishing consortia from Finland and Great Britain, with the most widely talked about being SanomaWSOY of Finland, one of the biggest Scandinavian media conglomerates. To date, the treasury ministry has decided only on an advisor for the sale. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 31) J.K.