Current Affairs Czech Radio introduces new book on station's eighty-year history
"From the Microphone to the Listeners" is the name of a new book that's just hit the shelves on the eighty-year history of Czech Radio. While providing a detailed description of the station's role in shaping the country from 1923-2003, the seven-hundred page publication also includes photographs, eye-witness accounts, and the development of radio technology. It also introduces the different departments and important personalities at Czech Radio. Eva Jesutova was one of the main initiators behind the book's production:
Eva Jesutova
"The last time a book on the history of Czech Radio came out was in
1935. It was the popular publication called the First Ten Years of
Czechoslovak Radio, by Anna Jandova-Pacakova. We worked on this new book
for two years, during which we processed all of the archive material,
bibliographies, and witness reports. Many of us remember quite well the
role Czech radio played and we knew others, who could also contribute to
the book and they, in turn, gave us the contacts for even older witnesses.
So, it was not difficult to find these people but the problem was getting
them to recall their stories and experiences because they are old now and
some were also not willing to be recorded, so we had to get it in
writing."
But it was not just former Czech Radio employees who helped the authors of
the book with their research. According to Mrs Jesutova, people were so
enthusiastic about making contributions that it prompted her and her
colleagues to prepare a special version of the book for the internet. It
will be significantly larger than the publication. In book form many texts
had to be shortened in order for all the information to fit into one
volume.
"We didn't just call onto listeners to provide us with photographs but also asked nationwide for any documents that could help us map Czech Radio's history. The response was great, we got several hundred diverse documents, such as certificates, concessions, photographs, audio recordings, and old radio receivers. Someone even gave us the very first crystal set. So far we have made a list of all these contributions and plan to show them at various exhibitions and activities that Czech Radio will be holding. They will naturally be available for public viewing. We will find an honourable place for them in the Czech Radio building, where we already have an exhibition on old technology."
