The NPO is conducting an investigation into cross-border behavior The worldgoes on by presenter Matthijs van Nieuwkerk and editors. There must also bean action plan to “prevent such things in the future”.
The statement follows consultations between NPO chairman Frederieke Leeflangand State Secretary Gunay Uslu. The reason is the Volkskrant article about theissue, which is based on testimonials from dozens of former employees of Theworld goes on.
“At the public broadcasters, we are all extremely shocked by the large numberof employees who have had negative and frightening experiences while workingfor the DWDD program. This should never have happened,” says Leeflang.
The NPO has announced that it has been in talks with other media for sometime, including RTL, Talpa and ITV Nederland, about a joint approach againsttransgressive behavior in the workplace.
It touches me that employees have felt so unsafe and have been treated very> badly.>> Secretary of State Uslu
In response to the reports, the NTR has canceled the recordings of the Top2000 Quiz with Van Nieuwkerk shut down this morning.
State Secretary Uslu had asked the NPO to come up with an action plancontaining concrete steps to prevent transgressive behavior in the future. Sheemphasizes that the public broadcaster, including BNNVARA, must guarantee asafe workplace for everyone, even when the workload is high. “It touches methat employees have felt so unsafe and have been treated very badly.”
NPO and Frans Klein
Current NPO director Video Frans Klein was responsible for DWDD for many yearsas media director of VARA. He told de Volkskrant, among other things, that hesaw that it was intense. “Of course we ran the risk of people getting a littletoo ground up in this situation. We tried to pay attention to that in our ownway. In retrospect, maybe not enough.”
An NPO spokesperson says it is too early to look at Klein’s role. “It’s notpart of the investigation now, our focus is first on the employees, and onwhat happened.”
Not fitting
In a statement, the NTR calls it inappropriate to include a festive quiztoday, after the dynamics created by the publication of the Volkskrantarticle. According to the NTR, the decision was taken in consultation with VanNieuwkerk and the NPO.
Two episodes were recorded yesterday, two were canceled today, says NTR. “Weare now going to think about how to deal with this unusual situation. This, ofcourse, in consultation with the NPO, which is responsible for thebroadcasts.”
It is not clear whether the recordings will take place later. The program isintended to be broadcast next month, in the run-up to the annual Top 2000 ofNPO Radio 2 and the Top 2000 a gogo on television.
The NTR says it has not received any reports of transgressive behavior in theprograms about the Top 2000. “An article like in the Volkskrant shows that itis important to stay focused.”
‘Regret’ but article also ‘draconian caricature’
More than fifty former employees of DWDD told de Volkskrant their story abouttransgressive behavior in that program. They said it involved “extremeoutbursts of anger and public humiliation”. Dozens of employees fell illbecause of the working conditions.
Van Nieuwkerk did not want to speak to the Volkskrant; he also refused toanswer written questions. Yesterday he did come up with a statement: “That weapparently were not able to give everyone a safe and pleasant feeling and thatit even made colleagues sick, I am very sorry.”