{"id":6440,"date":"2025-11-12T22:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/?p=6440"},"modified":"2025-11-12T22:22:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T21:22:11","slug":"discovering-whats-hidden-every-interview-is-a-new-experience-and-a-different-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/discovering-whats-hidden-every-interview-is-a-new-experience-and-a-different-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Discovering What\u2019s Hidden. Every interview is a new experience and a different energy."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3><strong>An interview with journalist Adam\u00a0S\u0119czkowski, board member of\u00a0the\u00a0Warsaw\u00a0Branch of the Association of\u00a0Polish Journalists, initiator of the Andrzej \u201cIbis\u201d Wr\u00f3blewski Competition for\u00a0Young Journalists of Warsaw and Mazovia, member of the Society of\u00a0Friends of \u0141\u00f3d\u017a, and cultural consultant for\u00a0the World Congress of\u00a0Poles, who publishes unique interviews with Polish and international stars on\u00a0the\u00a0Odkryjamyidoli.eu portal. He\u00a0has just been awarded the\u00a0title of\u00a0<em>Leader by\u00a0Vocation<\/em>.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>You have been nominated for the title of Leader by Vocation. How do\u00a0you feel about this distinction?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I&nbsp;don\u2019t see myself as a&nbsp;leader in the traditional sense of the word. For me, true leaders are outstanding athletes, musicians, and figures in culture and science who inspire millions. I&nbsp;simply try to consistently do&nbsp;my part \u2013 tell stories, ask questions, discover heroes who are important, even though they sometimes remain outside the mainstream. The fact that someone sees value in it is, of course, very gratifying, but I&nbsp;don\u2019t put myself on a&nbsp;pedestal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>Your professional and educational path has been incredibly diverse. How do\u00a0you sum it up?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s been a&nbsp;long and winding path. In my youth, I&nbsp;considered various fields \u2013 from law and legal studies, through medicine, computer science, and ultimately graduating with a&nbsp;degree in international relations as a&nbsp;political scientist. I&nbsp;also completed postgraduate studies in banking. I&nbsp;worked in a&nbsp;hypermarket and as a&nbsp;telecommunications consultant. After six months, I&nbsp;was promoted to section leader while still a&nbsp;student. Then banking and accounting, where I&nbsp;spent ten years gaining additional qualifications. Each of these stages taught me something \u2013 responsibility, patience, working with people, organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>So why did you abandon the finance and accounting path?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After ten years of working in accounting, I&nbsp;decided it was time for a&nbsp;change \u2013 maybe even something bold. I&nbsp;decided to try my hand at marketing. First, it was a&nbsp;marketing job for a&nbsp;language school, and later, sports marketing, where I&nbsp;had the opportunity to collaborate on projects such as the organization of the Ski Jumping World Cup in Zakopane. It was a&nbsp;unique combination of my professional path and my passion for sport, which has always been close to my heart. I&nbsp;practiced tennis and even managed to finish 18th in the Polish Junior Championships. Unfortunately, financial issues prevented me from further developing my athletic career, but sport remained an important part of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>You took your first steps in journalism on the citizen portal Wiadomo\u015bci24.pl. What was most important to you at that time?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a&nbsp;real turning point for me. I&nbsp;was learning the ropes, gaining my first experience, and getting to know the community. It was then that editors Tomasz Kowalski and Pawe\u0142 Nowacki offered me an internship at the Dziennik \u0141\u00f3dzki newspaper. This led me to the editorial office and saw what real journalism was like \u2013 with time pressure, accountability, and teamwork. This was the foundation on which I&nbsp;built my future career. I&nbsp;have very fond memories of both Tomasz and Pawe\u0142 \u2013 their support and trust were incredibly important to me. Subsequently, I&nbsp;wrote for publications such as the \u201cBlasting News\u201d portal, the \u201cPanorama Polska\u201d newspaper in Canada, and the \u201cTygodnik Polski\u201d in Australia, with which I&nbsp;still collaborate today. I&nbsp;also worked as a&nbsp;manager for music bands.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-696x928.jpg 696w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-1068x1424.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-315x420.jpg 315w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG20250630160035-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h4><strong>Journalism has undergone a\u00a0huge transformation. How do\u00a0you assess it from a\u00a0practitioner\u2019s perspective?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I&nbsp;believe the good old days of print are over. It\u2019s increasingly difficult to make a&nbsp;living in journalism these days, and many titles are disappearing. Everything is moving online. I&nbsp;also chose this path \u2013 since 2019, I\u2019ve been running the \u201cOdkryjamy Idoli\u201d portal. I&nbsp;create it independently, at my own expense, without the support of a&nbsp;team. It\u2019s my own project, my personal adventure, and a&nbsp;dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>What sets your interviews apart?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I&nbsp;try to avoid formulaic patterns. I\u2019m not interested in questions my interviewees have heard dozens of times before. I&nbsp;want to surprise them, uncover lesser-known facts, and uncover stories hidden behind the scenes. For example? During my interview with Drupi, I&nbsp;asked him about the Good Samaritan Award he received, which almost no one knew about. He was surprised, but that\u2019s precisely what made the conversation feel authentic. Readers appreciated it \u2013 the interview has already over 80,000 views. This proves to me that it\u2019s worth seeking out unconventional questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>You\u2019ve met many extraordinary people. Which conversations have been particularly memorable for you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The interview with Irena Jarocka was exceptional \u2013 we planned to talk for half an hour, but we ended up talking for over two. She was an incredibly engaging person, full of fascinating stories and profound reflections. I&nbsp;also have very fond memories of meetings with Dani Klein from the band Vaya Con Dios, Serj Tankian from the band System Of A&nbsp;Down, Krystyna Janda, Barbara Wachowicz, Jadwiga Bara\u0144ska and Jerzy Antczak, Jerzy Po\u0142omski, Stanis\u0142aw Soyka and Krzysztof Cugowski. Each interview is a&nbsp;new experience and a&nbsp;completely different energy for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>You were also a\u00a0sports reporter \u2013 you covered, among other events, Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, Euro 2016 in France, the 2014 World Championships in Athletics, the 2009 European Volleyball Women\u2019s Championship, and the 2008 European Basketball Men\u2019s Championship. What did these experiences give you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It was a&nbsp;time full of emotions. I&nbsp;had the opportunity to travel to cities like Paris, Warsaw, Sopot, and Wroc\u0142aw to present events through written material to those unable to witness the action from the arenas. Live reporting requires immense concentration and immediate reaction, but at the same time allows you to feel a&nbsp;unique connection with the audience. It\u2019s a&nbsp;great responsibility, but also immense satisfaction. I&nbsp;received a&nbsp;lot of positive feedback after such reports, and that motivated me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>It\u2019s worth noting that you are the originator of the Andrzej Ibis Wr\u00f3blewski Award. Where did the idea come from?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea was born out of necessity. I&nbsp;noticed that Warsaw and the Masovia region lacked an award dedicated to young journalists. I&nbsp;decided it was worth creating a&nbsp;distinction that would recognize them, motivate them, and instill confidence in the value of their work. I&nbsp;proposed the creation of such an award to the Presidium of the Association of Polish Journalists, Warsaw Branch. My proposal was well-received. This was also achieved thanks to cooperation with the Faculty of Journalism at the University of Warsaw. The jury is truly exceptional \u2013 it includes: Professor Jerzy Bralczyk, singer El\u017cbieta Wojnowska, the widow of Andrzej \u201cIbis\u201d Wr\u00f3blewski, Professor Tadeusz Kononiuk, PhD, DSc, Tomasz Mi\u0142kowski, PhD, Chairman of the Association of Polish Journalists, Warsaw Branch, and other distinguished experts. Three editions of the competition have already taken place. Each one attracted numerous participants, and awards went to the best. It gives me great satisfaction to see this initiative growing. This year, the event was enhanced by musical performances. We could count on the support and patronage of Adam Struzik, Marshal of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. We are on the eve of announcing the fourth edition of the award.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"616\" src=\"http:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-1024x616.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-1024x616.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-768x462.jpg 768w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-1536x923.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-696x418.jpg 696w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-1068x642.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830-699x420.jpg 699w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416003830.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h4><strong>You are a\u00a0member of the Board of the Association of Journalists of the Republic of Poland, Warsaw Branch \u2013 a\u00a0responsible position. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, it\u2019s a\u00a0very important role for me. I\u2019m serving my second term on the Board. The Association of Journalists of the Republic of Poland is one of the oldest and most respected journalistic organizations in Poland. Serving on its board gives me real influence over the association\u2019s activities, the opportunity to support young journalists, and develop projects like the Ibis Wr\u00f3blewski Award. It\u2019s not just a\u00a0title \u2013 it\u2019s a\u00a0commitment to the community to do\u00a0more than just my own work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>And on a\u00a0personal level? What is most important to you?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Personally, my immediate family is the most important thing to me. My daughter, who was born in 2018, is my greatest joy. She gives me strength and motivation every day. Our moments together are priceless. My wife is also a&nbsp;huge support to me, accompanying me through all my challenges and joys. My mother is also very important to me, supporting me and teaching me how to cope with adversity. I&nbsp;also believe that my father, even though he\u2019s no longer with me, is rooting for my achievements from above.<br>Besides, sport still plays an important role in my life. I&nbsp;recently discovered pickleball, a&nbsp;racquet sport that combines tennis, ping pong, and badminton \u2013 I&nbsp;try to play it once a&nbsp;week. It\u2019s a&nbsp;great way to exercise and a&nbsp;chance to break away from my daily responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>What are your next journalistic goals?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u00a0want to continue developing the \u201cOdkryjamy Idoli\u201d portal \u2013 writing increasingly interesting and in-depth articles and acquiring partners for collaboration. I\u00a0would also like to return to live sports reporting. I\u00a0also want the Andrzej \u201cIbis\u201d Wr\u00f3blewski Award to gain even greater prestige and become an important point of reference for young journalists. I\u00a0constantly want to ask questions that are not obvious, because only then can you truly discover another person. \u25a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right\"><strong><em>Katarzyna Raszka<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416018616.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6443\" width=\"211\" height=\"211\" srcset=\"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416018616.jpg 567w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416018616-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416018616-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1760416018616-420x420.jpg 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An interview with journalist Adam\u00a0S\u0119czkowski, board member of\u00a0the\u00a0Warsaw\u00a0Branch of the Association of\u00a0Polish Journalists, initiator of the Andrzej \u201cIbis\u201d Wr\u00f3blewski Competition for\u00a0Young Journalists of Warsaw and Mazovia, member of the Society of\u00a0Friends of \u0141\u00f3d\u017a, and cultural consultant for\u00a0the World Congress of\u00a0Poles, who publishes unique interviews with Polish and international stars on\u00a0the\u00a0Odkryjamyidoli.eu portal. He\u00a0has just been awarded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6441,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1139],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6440"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6440"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6440\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6448,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6440\/revisions\/6448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6440"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6440"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whystory.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6440"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}