The largest scientific magazine in the Netherlands is headed by ‘quack’ – Wel.nl
Scavenger hunt, for a long time the largest popular scientific magazine in the Netherlands, is currently in dire straits. The editors left after the publisher appointed a new editor-in-chief, who is rather academic about it.
Thirteen of the nineteen employees left after a reorganization of the Hearst publishing house, including the seven editors. De Volkskrant spoke with some of them. They want to remain anonymous.
Be nice to rice
“The working atmosphere at Scavenger hunt was always excellent. Even when the figures fell, there was a very healthy working climate in the editorial office. That reverse suddenly happened in September,” one of them begins to say. The reason was the choice of the management for editor-in-chief Lyn Kuyper, which the editors did not support.
She turned out to be active on Instagram under the name The energy supply. On that account, Kuyper writes, for example, that rice will mold faster if you treat it unkindly. She was also positive about the MMR method, a pseudoscientific way that you could reset your body and mind, whatever that may be. In addition, she was a ‘coach’ for the unscientific lifestyle group ‘OERsterk’, writes de Volkskrant.
Quack
The editors thought that this kind of floaty nonsense is not a thing of the past in the scientific world Scavenger hunt. An editor responds: “I find it inconceivable that in times of social polarization and open doubts about science you put someone at the helm of the largest popular scientific magazine in the Netherlands who holds such views. We decide to worry about what will happen. would happen if the outside world got to know that Scavenger hunt led by a quack.”
The editors then included a brief to the management, which stated, among other things: “Scientifically responsible, reliable: these are core values of Scavenger hunt. The editors believe that these core values are undermined by appointing an editor-in-chief who spreads untruths that are also the facts.”
But despite appearing to get rid of the editor-in-chief, foreclosed publisher Hearst stood firm, under the mother of inclusivity and diversity. The editors were asked to apply for four new positions that were impossible to do. Meanwhile arises Scavenger hunt led by the new editor-in-chief Kuyper and written by freelancers.
Sources): The Volkskrant