Katarzyna Stoparczyk: Beloved Polish Journalist and Children’s Programming Pioneer Dies Tragically

Tragic Loss of a Unique Voice in Polish Media

Katarzyna Stoparczyk, a distinguished journalist, author, and theatre director, died in a car accident on Friday in Jeżowe, Podkarpackie region.

Born in 1980 in Oleśnica, Lower Silesia, Stoparczyk was a graduate of the Wrocław Academy of Music, where she completed vocal-acting studies. She also held a postgraduate degree in journalism from the University of Wrocław.

Legacy in Broadcasting and Children’s Programming

Throughout her career, Stoparczyk interviewed numerous distinguished artists and cultural figures, including Wojciech Waglewski, Andrzej Pągowski, Jerzy Bralczyk, Wojciech Pszoniak, Franciszek Pieczka, Barbara Krafftówna, Stanisław Soyka, Anna Dymna, and Tomasz Stańko.

She was particularly known for co-hosting ‘Duże dzieci’ (Big Children) on TVP2 and creating the radio program ‘Dzieci wiedzą lepiej’ (Children Know Better) for Polish Radio Three. Her unique ability to communicate with children and remind adults of their childlike sensitivity made her programs special.

Recent Work and Final Projects

In 2024, she published ‘Franciszek Pieczka: Portret intymny’ (Franciszek Pieczka: An Intimate Portrait), and had another book awaiting release, titled ‘Tym: Człowiek szczery na trzy litery’.

Tragically, before her death, she had been scheduled to participate in several events at the Women’s Congress in Katowice, where she was to discuss contemporary education in the context of artificial intelligence and children’s safety.

A recipient of the Master of Polish Speech title in 2018, Stoparczyk’s legacy was acknowledged by Polish Radio with the statement: ‘Goodbye Kasia, thank you for your journalism. Kasia Stoparczyk is gone, but her words and stories will remain.’