Head of journalism Wollner is leaving Czech Television by mutual agreement
Update: 13/01/2023 14:15
Issued by: 13/01/2023, 13:16
Prague – Editor-in-Chief of report journalism Marek Wollner is leaving Czech Television. This step is the result of a mutual agreement for demanding parties, ČTK reported today in a press release of public television Karolína Blinková. Wollner faced allegations of sexual harassment and bullying, which he denied. The report of the internal commission of CT on his case, according to representatives of the television, information leading to the suspicion that any crime could have been committed. The termination of the long-term cooperation should nevertheless stabilize the situation in the newsroom and stop the damage to the good name of Czech Television. According to Wollner, his ability to defend himself against anonymous attacks was minimal due to the non-disclosure agreement he had signed. ČTK said that many statements against him are fabricated, false and slanderous.
“Even though there is no indication that Mark Wollner’s actions would bear the hallmarks of a criminal offense, at the moment both parties perceive the termination of cooperation as a step that can stabilize the situation in the newsroom and stop damage to the good name of ČT,” said Blinková . .
According to Wollner, it is clear that the attacks against him would never stop as long as he remained on television. “Many politicians can celebrate, they could not have achieved their goals in any other way, they achieved it in this way. The fact that all my Prague subordinates are behind me is taken for granted in advance. I do not claim that I am perfect, but I feel injustice, because those who are against me today attacks anonymously, I have always defended myself against attacks from the outside and put my own face on them. I want to give more peace not only to myself, but to my family. I spent 23 years at Czech Television, they were great years and a great experience for which I am grateful,” he said .
According to Blinková, Wollner is considered by Czech Television to be one of the best journalists in the country, who has done extraordinary work in investigative journalism during his 17 years in the news. “Primarily thanks to him, ČT Reporters has become a respected program that has proven many times that it can open up new topics and uncover even very complex and serious societal corruption,” adds the TV spokesperson.
According to her, the difficulty of preparing such a program is matched by the demands placed on its authors. “In this regard, Czech Television understands that working on such a program naturally also creates tense situations. It is Czech Television’s duty to create an environment for all its employees that is dignified and in which they feel good,” she said on twitter CT. According to Blinková, Česká TV will continue to focus on investigative and topical journalism even after Wollner’s departure in the editorial offices of Reportérů, Černých ovce or in the program Bilance.
Wollner was accused of sexual harassment and bullying by a CT employee last November. The CEO of CT Petr Dvořák then created an internal investigative commission composed of experts in law, human resources and complaint handling, which heard three dozen employees and external collaborators. The commission has drawn up a written report which is confidential. Wollner claims that it was not sexual harassment on his part, but rather a way of informal communication without a sexual context.
Wollner was placed under so-called obstacles to work until the investigation of the complaint, he does not participate in the moderation of the program Reportéři ČT, its preparation or management of the editorial office. Creative journalist Jiří Vondráček was entrusted with managing the journalism editorial office.
The commission, whose members are bound by ml, and whose composition has not been published, should also deal with the inappropriate behavior of the moderator of 168 hours of Norová towards subordinates. According to the media, Wollner accused her of this in response to the fact that Fridrichová initiated his investigation by the commission.