Successful athlete, journalist, television presenter – Marek Kafka is all of these. Together with Daniela Habešová, he anchors the morning news programme Nový den (A New Day) on CNN Prima NEWS. Alongside his Slovak colleague Simona Simanová, he also hosted the Czech-Slovak Diplomatic Evening organized under the auspices the magazines The Business Soirée and Slovenka.
How did you perceive the atmosphere of the diplomatic evening?
As very friendly and inspiring. People from many different areas of public life came together, but they all shared the same goal – to build good relations and remind ourselves of the values that Czechs and Slovaks have in common. The atmosphere was exceptionally warm.
How did you enjoy co-hosting the event with your Slovak colleague?
It was great! Slovak is naturally easy for me to understand, and I think that the combination of Czech and Slovak gave the evening an authentic atmosphere. In a way, it symbolically reminded us just how close our two nations are.
For several years now, you and Daniela Habešová have been presenting the morning news programme Nový den on CNN Prima NEWS. What qualities should a professional presenter have?
Above all, they should be authentic, quick-witted, appropriately humorous, and have an endless desire to keep searching for information. Our job is not just about reading the news – you also have to understand a wide range of topics and be prepared to react to situations that simply cannot be planned in advance. And, of course, you need nerves of steel. During a three-hour live broadcast, absolutely anything can happen – whether it is breaking news or a technical problem. I think Daniela and I have become such a well-coordinated team that very little can throw us off balance, but it can still be very stressful at times.
How do you cope with such early mornings?
You probably never really start to enjoy a 4 a.m. alarm clock. Some mornings you wake up immediately, while on others there is a small internal battle going on in your head. I’m sure everyone knows that feeling. But after several years of morning broadcasting, I know that as soon as I arrive at the studio and the cameras start rolling, the energy quickly follows. Historically, almost everyone working on a morning programme has overslept at least once. Daniela and I like to joke that, after almost three years, it still has not happened to us. Hopefully I have not just jinxed it…
What does the preparation for a live broadcast of Nový den look like?
It begins the day before the broadcast. Together with colleagues, we go through the individual topics, prepare interviews with guests, and familiarize ourselves with how the entire morning programme is expected to look. At the same time, we know that news is a living organism and many things can change within seconds. That is why the work of the entire team is immensely important. Everyone plays an irreplaceable role in what ultimately appears on screen, and I am truly proud of our team because it is an exceptionally demanding discipline.
Marek Kafka with his colleague Daniela Habešová.
The programme combines current affairs, interviews, weather forecasts, and a wide variety of guests. Who has surprised or impressed you the most?
That is actually one of the things I enjoy most about Nový den. In the course of a single day, you might interview a senior politician or economist, and a few minutes later a scientist, physician, athlete, or someone who has achieved something extraordinary in their field. It would be very difficult for me to single out one particular person. Often, the guests who surprise us the most are those we know only the basic facts about before the interview, but within a few minutes we discover that they have an incredible life story or fascinating experiences. For us as presenters, those discoveries are perhaps the most valuable part of the job.
You are a Czech national champion in canoeing. That is a major achievement in a demanding sport…
To be honest, I am still very proud of it. Not so much because of my own success, but because we competed in a four-man canoe, and sitting in the bow position – the paddler who often sets the pace – was Martin Fuksa, now an Olympic champion. So I can proudly say that I was one small piece in the mosaic of his incredible success. It was even more special when Martin came to the CNN Prima NEWS studio after winning Olympic gold. We immediately reminisced about our race together, joked about the old days, and I had the opportunity to congratulate him personally on his remarkable achievement.
Is there anything sport has taught you that you still use today?
Sport has been part of my life almost from the very beginning. I tried karate, ice hockey, and swimming, but eventually devoted most of my time to canoeing. It taught me many things that I still use today – discipline, patience, the ability to overcome obstacles, and the understanding that every success is built on long-term hard work. It also brought me friendships that have lasted a lifetime. In fact, I think sport indirectly led me to my current profession. Once I realized I was probably never going to become an Olympic champion, I wanted to interview the very best athletes instead. So I changed course and, through a different but equally demanding path, eventually found my way into the CNN Prima NEWS studio.
But I assume you have not given up sport entirely…
Certainly not. It is my way of relaxing. Fortunately, I have friends who also enjoy sports, so whether we are pushing each other while swimming, or playing football or floorball, we always have a great time and clear our minds. And of course, I also enjoy proper relaxation – for example, in a hot tub or a sauna. After all, recovery is part of training too, isn’t it?
Most memorable professional experiences
The strongest experience Marek has had as a presenter was introducing the national anthem in front of a sold-out stadium. “It gave me goosebumps,” he admits. “Another memorable occasion was when Daniela and I hosted the Ministry of the Interior’s Athlete of the Year event at Prague Castle – that was a great honour. Another unforgettable experience was having the opportunity, as a reporter, to fly with the Flying Bulls aerobatic team, who performed an aerobatic routine with me on board. I also rode in a racing bobsleigh down an ice track, sat as a co-driver in a WRC rally car, and even got to hold the Stanley Cup. Another powerful experience was playing the piano for senior citizens through the Letokruh organization, which has been supporting them for many years and with which I cooperate.”
CV BOX
Marek Kafka was born in Prague in 1993.
He graduated from a grammar school in Prague and later from Masaryk University in Brno.
He further expanded his education in law by earning a Master of Laws degree from the European School of Business & Management.
He joined CNN Prima NEWS in 2019 as a sports reporter and presenter and, in 2021, also presented the station’s main evening news programme.
Since December 2023, he has co-hosted the morning programme Nový den with Daniela Habešová and also presents the hourly news bulletins.
He also served for one year as spokesperson for OLYMP, the Sports Centre of the Czech Ministry of the Interior.
His interests include sports, adrenaline activities, his dog Amy, playing the piano, chess, cooking, and volunteer work with the Letokruh organization, which supports senior citizens.
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