JÍDELNA WHISPERS

Tip for journalists: Jaromír Soukup is the real reason behind the Christian Democrats' witch hunt of Education Minister Dana Kuchtová. Soukup comes from (PR) media agency Médea. It is a pivovar (brewery) with ties to Miroslav Kalousek that wants Soukup out.
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ČTK will be sold before 2009, I was told this Saturday at Café Louvre by a representant of a well known international news agency, which has interest in buying the Czech news agency. He told me that the negotiations have been going on and off for the past two years, but have recently intensified. He explained that the deal is going to take almost two years to be completed not only because there is no agreement on price, but also because it is being discussed how to avoid a backlash against the new type of ownership. According to hired specialists, there could be a loss of identification with the company. The global news agency he works for is a very well known brand name, but he says that that is not enough to fight the local emotional bind with certain companies, ČTK being one of them. They really like the monopoly-like status of ČTK, which has no real competition.
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By the way, Aktualne.cz is taken, together with Vltava-Labe Press, as one of the biggest threats to ČTK, considering the issue has been discussed in at least 4 management meetings in the last 3 months...
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Aleksandras Česnavičius, TV Prima's general manager, is very popular with his staff. In the corridors of Prima, he is called "That Man from Lithuania", playing with Jean Paul Belmondo's "That Man from Rio" film title, or "Brad Pitt from the Baltics". A news moderator from Prima was telling me Friday, at iBoys.cz Lollypop Party at Radost FX, that Aleksandras is "soooo good looking and well mannered, in absolute contrast to his predecessor", alluding to Martin Dvořák, who became known for his arrogance and "kamaradšoft" style, seeking loyalty over talent.
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There is a huge dispute between the so-called Swedish and Czech wings of management in Prima. Dvořák once confided to a friend of mine, that the making things difficult to the Swedish-sent staff was a way of making them desperate to buy a bigger stake, which is still in offer, but for a price MTG does not agree with.
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Pavel Rychetsky's son was heard in a bar saying that his father would have to pay him very well to keep quiet, in case he decides to run for president. When asked what he has, which can dirty the image of the Chairman of Constitutional Court, he answered: "me"...
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Lad'ka Něrgešová got an autographed book from pop-mystic writer Paulo Coelho in 2005. Coelho told me that the person who would own that book would give birth within the following 3 years to a very special soul with a very special mission. I am atheist and do not believe in any metaphysical manifestations, so I disregarded his words as a silly joke.
Nevertheless, if she believes in these things, Jaroslav Plesl should try to stay shorter days at LN and hurry up... :-)