Influence peddlers

HN's list today of the 10 most-influential Czechs says much about the CR. Václav Klaus, Václav Havel, Mirek Topolánek and Petr Kellner of PPF clearly belong on the list, but what about CEOs Petr Dvořák of TV Nova and Jiří Janeček of Czech TV? Are they more influential than, say, CNB Gov. Zdeněk Tůma, Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, CEO Martin Roman of ČEZ or all the commercial bankers, none of whom made the list? In most countries, people can't even name the CEOs of their TV stations. By including them, HN's panel seems to be suggesting that they personally influence the news. It's even rumored that the recent dispute over Czech TV's No. 2 man, František Lambert, was a power struggle between Topolánek (whose man is said to be Lambert) and Bém (who reportedly has Janeček's ear). Janeček won, which must put Bém rather high on the list of influence peddlers. [Czech Republic Hospodářské noviny Czech National Bank Television]