Self-censorship

The press media doesn't like to admit that its news coverage is influenced by advertisers, but a degree of this is inevitable in a country where a handful of companies account for so much of the advertising spending. A threat to pull a campaign is a strong lever. We've experienced this at times - usually from westerners, by the way. We think we've resolved the issue without lowering our standards. MF Dnes, for its part, has softened its business-news reporting but has hired hard-hitting Jan Macháček to write biting editorials. (Today, for example, he criticizes the cabinet for letting lobbyists for TDC/ Deutsche Bank fast-talk it into selling Český Telecom for a song.) MFD denies that it's changed its strategy, but its new approach is worth noting. The paper softens its blows on the business pages, but Macháček says whatever he wants on the editorial page.