Czech Television journalist Adam Komers greets other striking company employees, Jan. 5 2001 (Photo by Sean Gallup/Newsmakers) Press Freedom Or Power Play?: The Crisis In Czech TV "Having heard the speeches of some of my colleagues, I would like to say that I would not entrust them with the management of a greengrocer's shop let alone such a colossus as Czech TV. ... Something is obviously rotten in the state of television." — Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman, January 5, 2001. (Central Europe Review) On January 3, 2001, a crowd reported at 100,000 gathered to support striking public-TV journalists. The journalists had taken over the newsroom of Czech TV since December 24, protesting the appointment of a new director-general. Producing their own newscasts and orchestrating mass demonstrations, they have received international support for their demands for press freedom and independence. Indeed, warns Finnish TV journalist and MediaChannel advisor Anna Kaca: "What we are witnessing is the prelude to a big European battle over media, where journalists are challenging both the political classes and the business rule over public service-TV and private-TV stations." E-mail whispers suggest we may soon see a replay in Poland, as public-service journalists follow the lead of their Czech counterparts. But many commentators insist the public is being manipulated in a partisan political battle. They warn that the journalists, far from being defenders of independence, have long been pursuing their own political agenda through biased reporting. Now that Czech politicians have heard the demands for independent public-service media, they are under pressure to deliver the legislation to ensure it. At this writing the board of Czech TV has not acted on demands to fire its controversial new director. The Czech Parliament is expected to take up the issue this week. MediaChannel affiliates have the inside story. Is it politics, or is it media? And how could it be anything but both? — Aliza Dichter (liza@mediachannel.org), editor.

Newscast Battles Thousands of Czechs are gathering in the streets to watch the live newscasts created by striking journalists. Since taking over the newsroom on December 24, the journalists have offered their own news via cable and satellite, while their adversary, the new management, broadcasts reports over the air. From Freedom Forum, January 8 2001.  "We Have Already Won" A striking journalist explains the opposition to the new director-general, the demand for new laws protecting media independence and how necessities like toilets have arrived through the window. From Transitions Online Hypocrites And Partisans? The rebelling journalists have used an internal labor dispute to mobilize public passion in their favor, writes Jan Culík. "But the current deplorable state of the Czech political and economic arena is partially a direct responsibility of the current 'defenders of freedom of speech' ... This is a party political struggle for power, waged by undemocratic, manipulative means by both sides." From Central Europe Review, January 6 2001.  The Final Straw By demanding independence from political control, TV protests have simply tapped into public frustrations with current politics, according to Petra Breyerova. "The target of their anger was largely the so-called opposition agreement, a power-sharing arrangement between the Civic Democratic Party and the ruling Social Democrats." From Transitions Online A Contest Of Two Puppets? Are they both sides of the same coin? Posting on the Prague Independent Media Center site, "Arnost," "Vojta" and "Samantha" write: "The chaotic situation at Czech TV ... is only a reflection of the usual bureaucratic struggle for power. ... It is likely that the rebels will 'win' this power struggle, which has a dangerous potential, as Czech TV will then become the 'Word of God.' " From Independent Media Center Prague Worldwide Solidarity Journalists' groups around the world have expressed support for the strikers. Some, like the International Press Institute, have urged the Czech government to pass a law removing political appointees from the television council, while others, including the International Federation of Journalists, have taken a stronger stand in support of the protests, calling on the European Union to intervene on the protesters' behalf. From International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) The Protest The Duped The World The International Federation of Journalists, and indeed much of the world press, has swallowed the spin and inaccurate facts of the striking "second-rate" journalists, warns Andrew Stroehlein. From Central Europe Review, January 8 2001.  What The World Will See he holiday protests brought streams of eager foreign reporters to Prague, but, the editors of Transitions Online note: "The unmasking of the Czech Republic as a country with, yes, a newly active populace, but also a juvenile political and journalistic community, is nothing to be proud of." From Transitions Online Civic Action Is A Good Thing While the crisis could be a warning signal to the European Community regarding possible Czech membership in the European Union, writes Robert M. Kokta, it should be seen as a sign of healthy civic development. From Central Europe Review, January 7 2001.  But Is It A Revolution? Protestors hearkening back to revolutionary moments in Czech history are neglecting their own recent history, writes James Partridge. Instead of the Communist-style putsch and media takeover perceived by much of the public, this is actually a two-year-old battle to reform an organization of ambitious and sycophantic journalists. From Central Europe Review, January 6 2001.  The Apex Of A Debate Now that the protests have forced politicians to address issues of media law, possible resolutions to the conflict include renewed calls for privatization of the public-service broadcasters. Petra Breyerova reports. From Transitions Online Rebelling In Ignorance? A daily Web site read by political and media insiders may have fueled protests by a Czech public kept ignorant of the real issues. Jan Culík worries his journal may have given rise to a public protest he does not support: "Czech society has rebelled because someone has attempted to improve its public-service television. Most of the rebelling people are absolutely unaware [of] what has actually been going on." From Central Europe Review, January 6 2001.  Slovakia: The Domino Effect? The battles are being closed watched in neighboring Slovakia, not just because Czech TV is among the most watched news there, but because the struggle may energize Slovaks to challenge their own media laws. From Transitions Online Is Poland Next? MediaChannel isn't the only place receiving reports of possible copycat protests in Poland. The speaker of the Polish parliament stated this week that to prevent a similar crisis, Poland must depoliticize the country's television and radio committee. From Transitions Online TOP OF PAGE  |  HOME   What's Your View? Speak Out in the MediaChannel Forum. AS THE MEDIA WATCH THE WORLD, WE WATCH THE MEDIA.