Journalist fired for making light of swine flu

One of the country’s best known TV journalists was fired on Monday after posting a video on his blog making light of the swine flu outbreak that has killed 26 people. Jiří Dlabaja, who worked for the country’s most-watched television station Nova, is pictured asking five of his colleagues what stories they are working on. Each one grimaces and makes pig-like noises, including Dlabaja himself. The station’s director, Petr Dvořák, described the incident as a serious lapse in standards, as the video spread out over the internet. Mr Dvořák said his station had decided to crack down as the footage was shot ‘during working hours and in the newsroom’.

Author: Rosie Johnston