This news from Prague in the the Czech Republic: At least 50,000 Czechs came out into the cold last night to give their support to striking television journalists who are trying to preserve their independence from political pressure. Some 50 TV journalists have barricaded themselves in the newsroom since December 23rd in protest of the appointment of Jirí Hodac as general manager of the station. The protesters have tried to put out rival newscasts. Hodac is considered too close to the leader of the conservative party. He denies political bias but has tried to discharge 30 of the dissident journalists. As the journalists occupy the station, they have protested bannings as well as his appointment. Hodac, the new director of Czech Television, was chosen as new director after serving another position at the radio station. The president, Václav Havel, has also opposed the new director of Czech TV.