Lenka Černá Appointed to the Bakala Foundation Board of Trustees

At the end of May, the Bakala Foundation named Lenka Černá, a media manager with experience in the protection of freedom of speech and independent journalism, as the newest member of the foundation’s Board of Trustees. Černá is the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Economia publishing house, as well as one of the founders and the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Independent Journalism, which publishes the online daily HlídacíPes.org. Černá is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Czech branch of Transparency International. She has helped manage companies specializing in process management and certification, and for seven years she headed up Annonce, a publishing house active in advertising. Černá has a degree in international relations and political science from the College of International and Public Relations in Prague. “Lenka has been focusing her energy on working in non-profit organizations involved in protecting the freedom of speech and independent media for many years,” notes Michaela Bakala, Chairwoman of the Bakala Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “I am certain that her wealth of experience in a variety of fields will give our family foundation new inspiration. In addition to our main task of providing financial aid to talented students, we are also developing programs specifically focused on strengthening high-quality journalism and the role of independent media in defending democracy.” In response to her appointment, Černá says: “I am greatly looking forward to working with the Bakala Foundation. I have been focusing on the topic of independent media and the role it plays in a free society for some time now. I have also been involved in the practical issues associated with managing media organizations in my professional life. At this point, I would like to share the experience I have gained for the benefit of an exceptionally useful project.”