Stabilize the situation and stop the damage to the reputation. Head of journalism Wollner is leaving CT by mutual agreement
WITHeditor-in-chief Marek Wollner is leaving Czech Television. This step is the result of a mutual agreement for demanding parties, I informed ČTK on Friday 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. ČTK is investigating Wollner’s statement.
“Although 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 her, Wollner is considered by Czech Television to be one of the best journalists in the country, who has done extraordinary work in the field of 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 expose even very complex and serious social evils,” said a TV spokeswoman.
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 tense situations naturally arise when working on the program. It is the duty of the Czech Television to create for all its employees, which are dignified and in which they feel good,” said ČT on Twitter. 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 ovcí 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 confidentiality and whose composition has not been made public, should deal with the inappropriate behavior of the presenter of the 168 hours program Nora Fridrichová towards subordinates. According to the media, Wollner accused her of this in response to the fact that Fridrichová initiated his investigation by the commission.