Czech Roma seek new image

Czech TV's programme for the Roma minority

Efforts by the Romany minority in the Czech Republic to promote their own identity and pursue their own culture within society and the media are beginning to bear fruit.

That was the conclusion of a two-day conference reviewing the position of national minorities as portrayed in the Czech media.

The message the conference sent is that the media have an important role to play in the process of educating the Czech public about tolerance of minorities.

And it is thanks to the press, radio and TV that a somewhat different image of Romanies - rather than the stereotype of thieves and nomadic barbarians living in squalor - has begun to emerge.

As a result, the Czechs, known for their poor record for dealing with this ethnic minority, are slowly becoming more tolerant towards their Roma compatriots.

There is a lack of communication and understanding, which reflects the attitudes and values prevailing in society

Roma activist Karel Holomek

The Roma are clearly aware of the opportunities the media offer, and of the key role these opportunities could play in their struggle for recognition.

"Some Romanies are interested in pursuing a professional career in the media; and would like to work in radio or television," Romany MP Monika Horakova told Czech Radio.

And Roma activist Karel Holomek spoke of "a lack of communication and understanding, which reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society."

"This needs to be put right, and that is the main task Romanies involved in the media industry should strive to achieve," Mr Holomek said.

Roma in the media

But the Romanies are beginning to be seen and heard throughout the Czech Republic.

Human rights activist Obonete Ubam founded the League of Ethnic Minorities in April 2000.

Czech Roma in discussion programme

The organisation, which aims to improve the situation of minority groups in the country and make them aware of the need for coexistence with mainstream society, has quickly become popular and has launched its own web site.

The site provides information about national minorities living in the Czech Republic, problems encountered by ethnic groups on a daily basis, and educational courses available to them.

And Czech Radio launched a programme for the Roma minority in 1992.

Originally a 15-minute slot for all ethnic groups, the now 30-minute programme targets mainly the Roma minority - the third most numerous ethnic group in the Czech Republic.

Roma programme's opening sequence

It carries features on the minority's history and culture, political developments which affect their lives, international events and interviews with Romany activists, politicians and celebrities.

Ordinary Romanies are also given space to express their views on their situation.

Similarly, Czech TV broadcasts its own programme Velky Vuz, which highlights the problems faced by minority groups in the Czech Republic.

Puppet hero

And Roma children, too, have a new hero - a life-size puppet called Pindralko. He is a character from a book by Jarmila Cermakova.

The puppet teaches Roma children to be tolerant by talking to them about friendship, tackling boredom and making new friends.

"Romany children have quickly become fond of Pindralko," Ms Cermakova told Czech Radio.

"He is a life-size puppet and this makes it a lot easier for them to like him - they can sing him songs or confide in him with their problems and worries."

And there are plans to introduce the puppet on TV as a cartoon character in the near future.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.