Unheard of Netherlands (ON!) violates the code of the public broadcaster with incorrect information, says the ombudsman of the NPO. The next move is now up to the NPO and the Media Authority (CvdM). How long will it take to actually take action?
Ombudsman Margo Smit stated on Tuesday that the new broadcaster will follow the NPO code on various points by spreading false information. She made the decision after an investigation into complaints that came in after broadcasts of the ON! program Unheard of News.
According to the ombudsman, the broadcaster passively and actively contributes to the dissemination of demonstrably incorrect information, which is not corrected. She now places the ball with the NPO and the CvdM, which can impose sanctions.
The CvdM said on Tuesday that it did not want to comment on the report yet, but would first “study it carefully”. A spokesperson would not say how much time the supervisor will take for this.
NPO seems to be speeding up
The NPO seems to be speeding up and wants to provide an answer to the report next week. The organization feels a need: according to a spokesperson, the ombudsman has drawn “conclusions about ON!’s journalistic actions that really worry us”.
“After joining the system, ON! has committed itself to the journalistic code of the NPO and also to the constructive conversations we have had,” said the spokesperson.
The NPO is currently studying the report to assess whether there is reason to impose a measure on ON! to impose. In the week of June 13, this should be clear, says the public broadcaster.
‘It is very important that action is taken quickly’
D66 MP Sjoerd Sjoerdsma informs NU.nl that it is “very important that the critical report of the ombudsman is acted quickly”.
Following a broadcast of Unheard of News In which the population theory was discussed, D66 asked Parliamentary questions to State Secretary Gunay Uslu (Culture and Media). A majority of the House of Representatives supported Sjoerdsma and appeared to be concerned that this repopulation theory was broadcast “uncontested”.
Sjoerdsma says he is hopeful about the pressure that the NPO is putting behind the issue. “The NPO has indicated that it will respond no later than next week. As far as I am concerned, this expresses the urgency that this case deserves. If that response is not forthcoming, D66 will of course immediately sound the alarm.”
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ON! stays behind the broadcasts
ON! founder Arnold Karskens said on Tuesday after the results of the report that he would remain “right behind the broadcasts” that the broadcaster has made so far. “We do understand that for some it takes some getting used to that with our entry, other opinions and factual interpretations can be seen and heard in the public system.”
One of the points of criticism of the Ombudsman is that the presenters do not sufficiently question or contradict in case of incorrect statements.
In Unheard of News Recently politician Geert Dales was a guest. He did go against the claims at the table, especially about the repopulation theory. In the same broadcast Sjoerdsma was also invited to come and discuss in the program.
Unheard of News can be seen on NPO1 on Tuesday and Thursday at 12.20 pm. The next broadcast is this Thursday afternoon.
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