Marko Viliam Palo

Nominace byla podána v anglickém jazyce:

I am nominating Marko Viliam Palo because I believe his work with Prague Pulse represents a genuine and sustained contribution to Prague’s international student community and reflects the values behind the Jan Opletal Award.

What makes Marko’s work special to me is that Prague Pulse is not simply a news or social media page. It has become a platform that helps international students feel informed, included and connected in a city and academic environment that can otherwise be difficult to navigate when you are new, far from home, or do not speak Czech. Through its connections with the Erasmus community in Prague, Prague Pulse helps incoming international students discover opportunities, events and communities, meet other people and integrate into life in Prague. In this way, Marko is actively helping to strengthen the international academic community and create a more welcoming environment for students from different countries and backgrounds.

An equally important part of Marko’s work is his commitment to human rights, equal treatment and responsible information. Prague Pulse does not shy away from difficult subjects. The platform regularly raises awareness about injustice, discrimination, war, repression and violations of fundamental rights. It has shown solidarity with Ukrainians, Iranian students and other communities affected by violence, persecution or injustice, giving these issues visibility among young and international audiences in Prague.
Marko and Prague Pulse also place a strong emphasis on verification and fighting misinformation. At a time when misleading stories, propaganda and online hoaxes can spread extremely quickly, Prague Pulse tries to verify information before sharing it and has actively challenged false narratives, including viral Russian propaganda. I consider this especially important for students, who increasingly receive news through social media.