All NPO broadcasters, except NOS, refuse to talk or collaborate with OngehoordNederland in the field of journalism. That broadcaster does not engage injournalism, the broadcasting associations argue in a letter to Gijs vanBeusekom, the genre manager of the NPO who is responsible for journalisticproductions.
Normally, all broadcasters discuss the journalistic course of the NPOtogether. The heads of journalism of the broadcasters now state that OngehoordNederland ‘in our view does not conduct journalism, but uses its programmingto put forward points of view and opinions that are not journalisticallysubstantiated’.
‘The NPO’s genre consultation is a place where the heads of journalism explorethe profession together and keep each other on their toes, but this is onlypossible if all participants share the same basic journalistic principles,such as hearing both sides of the argument and finding the truth,’ accordingto the broadcasters.
The current programming of Ongehoord Nederland does not meet this in the eyesof the other broadcasters. The letter is signed by AvroTros, BNNVara, WNL,Human, Omroep Zwart, Omroep Max, KRO-NCRV, VPRO, EO and Powned. WNL editor-in-chief Bert Huisjes said yesterday that his broadcaster no longer wants totalk.
The NOS has not joined the call. “I can’t find a solution in advance not tocome to the table,” says editor-in-chief Giselle van Cann of NOS Nieuws.,,That genre consultation is precisely the place to say what you think ofjournalism. It is not for me to make an administrative judgment.”
The NPO takes the letter “extremely seriously”, a spokesperson said. He saysthat the NPO ‘has not yet taken a position’ on the issue. “We will discussthat.”
Quote >>> The genre meeting is a place where the heads of journalism explore the> profession together and keep each other on their toes, but this is only> possible if all participants share the same journalistic fundamentals>> Broadcasters in letter
Sanction
Ongehoord Nederland previously received a financial sanction from the NPOafter an investigation by the Ombudsman into complaints that the broadcasterwould spread incorrect and unreliable information, that the journalists wouldnot ask enough critical questions and that the guests would mainly come fromthe right. This would be contrary to the journalistic code of the NPO. TheOmbudsman considered these complaints to be largely well-founded.
The Ombudsman has launched a new investigation after a much-discussed itemthat showed videos of random black people beating up white people without anycontext. Presenter Raisa Blommestijn stated that the black perpetrators allhad a racist motive. But from research by pointer has shown that there is noevidence for this.
As a result of this item, the Ombudsman again received many hundreds ofcomplaints. The NPO has also asked the Media Authority to look into whetherOngehoord Nederland has violated the media law.
Ongehoord Nederland and broadcaster Arnold Karskens could not be reached forcomment today. But in the program Unheard of News accused presenterBlommestijn of excluding the fellow broadcasters ‘the sound of millions ofDutch people’. She also accused the NPO of ‘standing for connection andinclusion, but now doing nothing but excluding and throwing mud’.
Also listen to the AD Media Podcast with this week ‘s nominations for theTelevizier ring, the clash between Angela de Jong and Johan Derksen, thestatement by Linda de Mol and the cancellation of Het Dorp. Listen below orsubscribe via Spotify or iTunes.