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Czech Radio opened its doors to the general public on Saturday for its annual open day. Visitors enjoyed a rare opportunity to see the station’s studio building on Římská St, as well as the adjoining historic Czech Radio building on Vinohradská St, which has mostly been reopened after an extensive renovation job. The open day was part of a Celebration of Prague day organised by the city authorities.

Public service broadcasters in the Czech Republic have begun airing party advertisements on Wednesday, just over two weeks before general elections. The ads will appear on Czech Television at 2 pm every day, while Czech Radio will broadcast spots at different times on three of its stations. Twenty-six parties are contesting elections on May 28 and 29. The Social Democrats are favorites to come first, while opinion polls suggest that two or more new parties could reach the five-percent threshold needed to enter the Chamber of Deputies

If you had been listening to Radio Prague back in the late 1930s, it is very likely that you would have heard the voice of Ivan Jelínek. He was one of the pioneers of broadcasting in Czechoslovakia, and an early presenter of our broadcasts to Britain and North America. From the radio headquarters here in Vinohrady, he witnessed many of the dramas leading up to World War Two, including moment of the German occupation itself. During his wartime exile in Britain and in the decades that followed the war, Ivan Jelínek became a familiar voice in the

A Prague court rejected the complaint by a former director of Czech Radio calling for the overturning of a decision by the broadcaster’s council to sack him. Václav Kasík said the dismissal in July last year on the initial grounds that he no longer fulfilled the preconditions for doing the job was illegal. The court said there council’s decision was not wholly correct and contained errors, but it was not illegal. Mr. Kasík said his lawyers would decide whether to appeal the court ruling. Mr. Kasík was initially appointed in 1999 with his mandate extended for a further six years in May 2005.

The legendary Big Band of Czech Radio is celebrating 50 years of its existence. The history of the band goes back to the 1960s, when it was called the Czechoslovak Radio Orchestra. Over the years, the band cooperated with most of the country’s best known jazz and pop musicians. On Wednesday it will celebrate its anniversary with a concert at Národní Dům in Prague.

The general director of Czech Radio, Richard Medek, has resigned. Citing health reasons, Mr Medek announced his decision to the Council of Czech Radio on Wednesday. Peter Duhan, the current programme director, will be taking over the Radio in the interim from February 28, and has told the Czech Press Agency that he would most likely compete for the position again. Mr Duhan also filled the post of general director during the previous vacancy, until Mr Medek was appointed on the basis of a new organisational plan for the radio. However, that plan was ultimately voted down by the council a fortnight ago. The council will be accepting nominations for the post of general director until the end of April.

Today in Mailbox: listeners’ response to the fact that Radio Prague is to stay on shortwave, a new frequency schedule, SoundCzech, Czech men and doctors. Listeners quoted: Michael Fanderys, Don Hetherington, Uday Nayak, Michael Matejka, Lynda-Marie Hauptmann.

This week in Mailbox: the future of shortwave broadcasting, discussion about full body X-ray scanners. Listeners quoted: Ed Reid, Christopher Lewis, Stuart Severin, Alastair Pamphilon, Jonathan Murphy.

Today in Mailbox: Radio Prague is to stay on shortwave! Listeners quoted: Mogire Machuki, Yvonne and Gerwyn Roberts, Dmitry Mezin, Dibyendu Madhab Das.

In this special New Year’s Day programme, we look back at some of the best of our interview programme One on One in 2009. Among those featured: Catholic intellectual Martin C Putna, historian Igor Lukeš, academic Peter Demetz, former Radio Prague man John Tregellas, jazz musician Rudy Linka and the great American cartoonist Robert Crumb.