Massive criticism of Ongehoord Nederland, broadcaster washes hands in innocence
Yesterday’s broadcast of Ongehoord Nieuws contained an item showing a compilation of internet videos in which people beat up. According to presenter Raisa Blommestijn, the program wanted to show ‘a less exposed aspect of racism on social media’. She spoke of ‘whites being beaten up by negroes’.
‘There is no room for racism’
That is completely in the throat for many parties. “Freedom of expression is not unlimited, however. Where racist ideas are spread under the cloak of journalism, that limit has been reached,” write the broadcasters AVROTROS, BNNVARA, EO, HUMAN, KRO-NCRV, MAX, NTR, PowNed, VPRO, WNL and Omroep ZWART jointly.
That is unworthy of the platform of the public broadcaster. We collectively address the public broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland about this. There is no place for racism in our society.”
Reaction Unheard of Netherlands
The broadcaster says it is not too understandable that these themselves can and do not claim to be. According to the board of Ongehoord Nederland, there is no racism or discrimination and that was never the intention. The broadcaster also says it will distance itself from racism.
Rabin Baldewsingh is National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism. He does not understand the response of the broadcaster. It would also have taken place in films of which we as viewers do not even know whether there is racism. could just be a fight. I don’t even know about the images being from the Netherlands.”
‘The presenter very clearly sets a frame’
Baldewsingh that ‘what is now being done by the presenter puts a very non-existent frame that says black people on white people’. “I find that really incendiary. This is polarization at its best and I really don’t think it belongs in our public system.”
The coordinator is also angry with the ministry. “It is irresponsible and also dangerous that Ongehoord Nederland has been given the space to polarize society and incite hatred against groups,” he says.
‘Ministry failed’
According to Baldewsingh, the ministry has failed to monitor the affairs of broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland. “The agreement was that the Ministry of Affairs would monitor Ongehoord Nederland.”
There had been previous data that Ongehoord Nederland did not protect itself from the rules of the game, says Baldewsingh. The ministry has continuously announced in recent months that it will not supervise ON’s programs. The ombudsman launched an investigation into the broadcaster into complaints from viewers.
Sanction
Staats Uslu (Culture and Media) responds through her speaking to Baldewsingh’s reproach by saying that The Hague ‘cannot influence the content of the programs that the broadcasters of the NPO make’.
According to the State Secretary, it is up to the NPO to monitor compliance with broadcasting journalist codes, to the Ombudsman to set weighty targets and to the Media Authority to monitor whether the media law is being violated.
In July Ongehoord Nederland confirmed a sanction from the NPO. “If a broadcaster has applied for two, the Secretary of State can reconsider the license for one broadcaster,” said the said.