Klára Smejkal
Department of Media Studies and Journalism, Masaryk University
public service media, sociology of organizational culture
Klára Smejkal completed her PhD in Media and Journalism Studies at the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at Masaryk University in Brno, where she currently works as an assistant professor. Her research focuses on how public service media perceive different audience groups and how these institutions approach the digitalization of their services. In previous years, she also collaborated with the Department of Film Studies and Audiovisual Culture at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno, where she contributed to research on Czech film production, and she completed a research stay at the Centre for Media and Journalism Studies at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. She has been involved in several national and international research projects and is a co-author of the book Reimagining Public Service Media: Navigating Change and Exploring Public Consensus in the Czech Republic, which was nominated in 2026 for the Media and Democracy Karol Jakubowicz Award. In her free time, she enjoys reading fiction, swimming (ideally in the ocean), and organizing training courses for novice Scout leaders.
Cirg - about
CIRG – the Cultural Industries Research Group focuses on research into cultural and media industries, particularly on current issues, challenges, and conflicts arising from tensions between intellectual property law, the business models of cultural industries, the digitalization and platformization of cultural sectors, and changing consumer habits. The group’s name is an acronym of its English title, Cultural Industries Research Group. CIRG is an informal association of experts from media studies, intellectual property law, media law, media ethics, cultural economics and cultural management, sociology of culture, and data analysis. The group operates on the basis of project-based funding through applied research projects (TAČR, NAKI, EEA and Norway Grants, OP JAK Intersectoral Cooperation), basic research projects (GAČR, ZIF Bielefeld, OP VVV Excellent Research, DFG), as well as contract research (State Cinematography Fund, Association of Audiovisual Producers).
get involved
Screen Industries in Central and Eastern Europe Research Group
SIRG
Charles University
Department of Film Studies
Lab head: Petr Szczepanik
sirg@ff.cuni.cz
PhD
We offer the opportunity to pursue doctoral study focused on developing and carrying out your own research projects in the field of cultural and media industries. The programme can be undertaken at Palacký University Olomouc, Charles University, or the Prague University of Economics and Business under the supervision of leading experts in media studies, cultural economics, digital ethics, and copyright law.
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The Student Legal Clinic focuses on a wide range of legal issues, including copyright law. Supervisors overseeing the preparation of each legal opinion are always experts in the relevant field of law. The advice is provided free of charge.
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