CT Council.
Some other major events remain somewhat overshadowed by the House of Commons consideration of the extension of the state of emergency. The situation surrounding the functioning of the Czech Television Council is very worrying. The resignation of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman from their positions on the Council is a sobering development. Often, such actions by leading officials of various institutions are seen as more or less insignificant and are downplayed, but in this case they should not escape public attention. The 15-member Council of Czech Television is by law the body through which the public scrutinises the activities of the Czech Television. The members are supposed to represent important regional, political, social and cultural currents of opinion. The resigning chairman, 50-year-old René Kuhn, is a marketing specialist from Ostrava. Jaroslav Dědič (the resigning vice-chairman) is a marketing expert from Olomouc. Another vice-chairman, Daniel Váňa, is also from the marketing world. He lists his job as Communications Director for Ano 2011. There are several sportsmen, teachers, journalists, but there is also a clergyman, a sociologist and a banker. The tense atmosphere and personnel changes in positions within the Council seem to illustrate the current state of Czech society. Many people are concentrating on "short-term" problems related to their own or general health situation, compliance with set restrictions, but also on maintaining the standard of living of their families, conditions at work or school. In a state of emergency, with the chaotic management of the state, the presentation of deliberate or accidental hoaxes, and a blurred perception of current reality, some decisions can be pushed through that would not otherwise pass, or at least would have to be properly and thoroughly justified. In the current circumstances, it is objectively more likely that there will be pressures that cause the loss of platforms that offer, or at least can offer, independent and balanced perspectives on what is happening around us. Social networks in whatever form are unable to eliminate this risk. On the contrary, they increase it. Whatever the public's opinion of the quality and professionalism of CT's work, it is clear from many angles that the eventual absence of public service media is a path to censorship driven by politicians, media house owners and hired marketing consultants. Therefore, the reasons for the resignation of the members of the CT Council should be taken seriously and the public should follow closely the next steps taken by this powerful body with a changed internal hierarchy. At least as carefully as information about the number of square feet per person in stores during the emergency.
photo: members of the CT Council elected on 27 May 2020, Veselý, Matocha, Lipovská