During martial law, he appeared on air in a uniform. Later, the presenter of “Dziennik” lived on benefits

Marek Tumanowicz got involved with in the mid-1970s. First, he appeared in the daily program “Wieczór z Dziennik”, and then he became the presenter of “Dziennik Telewizyjny”. He regularly appeared on the air, without standing out among his colleagues. Everything changed when on December 13, 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski introduced martial law in Poland.

He was one of the most popular presenters of “Dziennik”. The idea of ​​the uniform had been with him for years

initiated one of the most famous propaganda changes in “Dziennik”. He suggested that everyone appearing on the vision should wear uniforms.

On December 13, 1981, just before the broadcast of the first ‘Dziennik Telewizyjny’, an idea came to my mind – I thought it was brilliant at the time – to give presenters uniforms

– in the book “Z DTV w bibiosie”. My colleagues agreed to this proposal, no one expected what consequences it might have in the future. – This “green tail” followed me for many years – he said in an interview for TVP Info available on . The greatest opposition was expressed by the viewers who mercilessly mocked him. His surname was even shortened to “tuman”.

Although his work had a huge impact on his life, he never regretted the path he chose. – However, I do not think that being involved in the television of that time was the mistake of my life – he said years later. He did not hide the fact that at that time every appearance on the air cost him a lot of nerves and stress. The content was edited in the Office of the Council of Ministers, and he often received only handwritten notes from the general, which were impossible to read. – It was a very small magazine, I was nervous not to get anything wrong, especially since these materials reached us even 10 minutes before broadcast – he recalled.

After losing his job in television, he lived on benefits. What’s up with Marek Tumanowicz?

When the political system changed in 1989, Tumanowicz stopped appearing in “Dziennik”. He was not fired, as many expected, and was promoted to the position of program director. However, he did not stay in this position for long, because after the parliamentary elections, like everyone associated with the communist regime, he was dismissed. He can’t find his way in the labor market, and his association with the infamous uniform made it even more difficult. Initially, he lived on benefits. – When I first applied for unemployment benefits in 1991, there was a rumbling in the corridors of the Labor Office that the television had arrived. Yes, she came, but for benefits, he said.

He worked various odd jobs until he finally found a job, first as a security guard and then as a night watchman. He knew it was a consequence of his past actions, but he didn’t feel guilty at all and he was never going to apologize for it. – I was on benefits three times because I couldn’t find any job, which was the result of the unfortunate idea of ​​uniforms and the fact that I never publicly repented or claimed that working for “Dziennik” during martial law was the biggest mistake of my life . Anyway, I don’t think so at all, he emphasized. In 2023, Marek Tumanowicz celebrated his 76th birthday. He is currently retired.