Journalists Seek Investigative Independence
Czech Government TV director refuses to resign
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In the Czech Republic, journalists are on strike for freedom of the press. But some say that if they win independence from the government bureaucracy, it will simply mean that US media corporations will buy their stations and take over their airwaves. Can freedom survive against sluggish governments and power-mad corporations? Below is part of a news report on this subject from the Freedom Forum and AP. |
PRAGUE, Czech Republic — The controversial new director of Czech state television, whose appointment touched off nationwide protests and highlighted issues of journalistic integrity, has defied a parliamentary resolution and refused to step down, a station official said yesterday.
The Czech Television Council, which supervises the country's airwaves, met yesterday but declined to consider dismissing the official, Jiri Hodac. The lower house of Parliament had adopted a measure late last week urging the council to fire Hodac if he refused to step down.
Jana Bobosikova, head of the public broadcaster's news department, said yesterday that Hodac says he "won't resign, and I don't see any reason why he would change his mind." Bobosikova was appointed by Hodac, who was named director on Dec. 20.
Hodac's appointment triggered outrage among the news staff. Journalists the appointment was politically biased because Hodac is too close to the former prime minister, Vaclav Klaus. They also argue more broadly that Hodac's appointment shows that political parties are keen to influence public broadcasting. Hodac has denied any political bias.
Nonetheless, about 40 journalists have barricaded themselves in the newsroom since Dec. 20, demanding Hodac's ouster and preventing him from taking over the station.
About 100,000 people flocked to Prague's Wenceslas Square Jan. 3 to support the journalists' call for Hodac's resignation. It was the largest demonstration in Prague since the Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule in 1989.
The lower chamber of Parliament is scheduled to vote Jan. 12 on amending the Czech Television law. The amendment would change the way the station's supervisory body is appointed and should give it more independence from political parties.
Meanwhile, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported that plans are under way for a mass rally the day before Parliament is to consider the amendment.
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