To strengthen local journalism, the NOS will collaborate with local (NLPO) and regional public broadcasters (RPO). More than sixty journalists are stationed for a year with various regional and local broadcasters. The NOS acts as an employer for the journalists.
The idea is that news and backgrounds ‘from the capillaries of society’ can also be relevant for regional and national reach. The additional journalists contribute to a professional editorial network that is qualitative content available for all layers and platforms: local, regional and national.
To realize these plans, Minister of Education Slob has made 4.5 million euros available. “Good local and regional journalism is essential for good democracy and good local information provision. Collaboration reinforces this. I am therefore pleased that these parties are working together on this important task,” said Slob.
The plan is also in line with a recent advice from the Council for Public Administration and the Council for Culture. They argue for concrete agreements, more cooperation and stronger funding for regional and local media, so that good local journalism is available everywhere in the Netherlands. The NOS, NLPO and RPO hope that the experiment will yield experiences that have value in the longer term.
“We are pleased with this joint initiative and the support of the minister to further strengthen the necessary local journalism through collaboration, and in which each public layer works from its own strength and responsibility”, says Marc Visch, director-manager NLPO.
‘Capillaries of society’
“Local broadcasters are in the capillaries of society and have unrivaled access to what is happening and what is happening locally. By working better together, that offer can be further strengthened and also be reached regionally and even nationally.”
Mark Minkman, director of RPO, says that “the spearhead is to strengthen local journalism with journalists. With a journalist in all villages, cities and regions, we fulfill the essential role we play for local society and democracy.”
“Also responsible for journalism”
“Three public souls, one actually completely logical thought. The request of Minister Slob fits in with the philosophy of the NOS that, in addition to our public task in reporting in the field of news, sports and events, we also want to show responsibility for journalism”, says Gerard Timmer, General Manager NOS.
“A responsibility that we are showing more and more in our cooperation with regional broadcasters. That we constructively explore with private parties and a philosophy that leads to us now also experimenting with regional and local broadcasters.”