Ivan Medek
Encyclopedia
Ivan Medek was a Czech
classical music
critic
, radio broadcaster and journalist
. Medek was an important voice of the Czech anti-communist opposition movement, particularly after being forced into exile
from Czechoslovakia
in 1978. Medek collaborated closely with such Czechoslovak politicians as Václav Havel
and Pavel Tigrid
in opposition to communist rule.
Medek was born in Prague
, Czechoslovakia
, on July 13, 1925. He began his career as both a classical music critic
and journalist
. He worked as a musician
for the Czech Philharmonic until he was fired by the government for his support of the opposition.
Medek was an original signatory of the Charter 77
manifesto
in 1977. Persecution by the communist government for his participation in Charter 77 forced Medek into exile
in neighboring Austria
beginning in 1978. Medek began working at the Voice of America
in Austria, where he broadcast news
and information into Czechoslovakia
. His VoA radio broadcasts became an important link for anti-communist dissidents in his native Czechoslovakia.
Medek returned to Czechoslovakia from exile in 1989 during the Velvet Revolution
. In 1993, Medek was appointed to the office of the presidency under Vaclav Havel
, the first president of the Czech Republic
. He later became the head of the presidency, or chancellor, under Havel.
Medek died in Prague
on January 6, 2010, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Helena.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
, radio broadcaster and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. Medek was an important voice of the Czech anti-communist opposition movement, particularly after being forced into exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
in 1978. Medek collaborated closely with such Czechoslovak politicians as Václav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
and Pavel Tigrid
Pavel Tigrid
Pavel Tigrid was a writer, publisher and author of Czech origin. He is considered one of the most important personalities of the exile Czech journalism.-Biography:He left Czechoslovakia as a young man to evade the Nazis...
in opposition to communist rule.
Medek was born in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, on July 13, 1925. He began his career as both a classical music critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He worked as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
for the Czech Philharmonic until he was fired by the government for his support of the opposition.
Medek was an original signatory of the Charter 77
Charter 77
Charter 77 was an informal civic initiative in communist Czechoslovakia from 1976 to 1992, named after the document Charter 77 from January 1977. Founding members and architects were Václav Havel, Jan Patočka, Zdeněk Mlynář, Jiří Hájek, and Pavel Kohout. Spreading the text of the document was...
manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
in 1977. Persecution by the communist government for his participation in Charter 77 forced Medek into exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in neighboring Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
beginning in 1978. Medek began working at the Voice of America
Voice of America
Voice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
in Austria, where he broadcast news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
and information into Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. His VoA radio broadcasts became an important link for anti-communist dissidents in his native Czechoslovakia.
Medek returned to Czechoslovakia from exile in 1989 during the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
. In 1993, Medek was appointed to the office of the presidency under Vaclav Havel
Václav Havel
Václav Havel is a Czech playwright, essayist, poet, dissident and politician. He was the tenth and last President of Czechoslovakia and the first President of the Czech Republic . He has written over twenty plays and numerous non-fiction works, translated internationally...
, the first president of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. He later became the head of the presidency, or chancellor, under Havel.
Medek died in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
on January 6, 2010, at the age of 84. He was survived by his wife, Helena.