As stated in the management agreement [Beheersovereenkomst] and by media decree, the Flemish public broadcaster VRT has editorial independence. They bear full responsibility for internal and external productions and programming of their different channels, and their financial sources have no influence on the content. Addressed in the policy framework of the VRT, this applies to its television and radio channels, as well as its news sites. In the selection and presentation of news and other journalistic content, the content will always prevail over potential influence of financial considerations. In its mission statement, VRT emphasises a guarantee of impartial, independent, and reliable news. The board of directors, politically composed by the Flemish Government, has no influence on the content in any way. However, VRT is obliged to invest in certain types of content, like documentaries, and to be a front-runner in investigative and foreign journalism.
Commercial media organisations also enjoy editorial independence, as set out in the Belgian Constitution. However, for commercial media organisations, it is sometimes difficult to safeguard independence from their powerholders, as selection and programming of content can be influenced by revenue streams. News shows, on the other hand, must be neutral, as determined by decree – if violated, they can be sanctioned.
For the Flemish newspaper industry, editorial independence is also very important. The chair of the Flemish Journalists’ Union (VVJ) indicates there are three kinds of independence. First, there is political independence: journalists are exempt from having to cope with the pressure of politicians. Second, there is judicial independence: the Belgian Constitution and additional media legislation guarantee free journalism; this is also partly ensured by the high degree of self-regulation, in which impartiality and independence have always been important aspects of Flemish journalism (see also Indicator C1 – Supervising the watchdog “control of the controllers”).
Third, and most difficult to maintain, is economic-commercial independence. All newspaper companies in Flanders, other than the public broadcaster, are commercial companies; hence, they depend on revenues. In the volatile and highly competitive media landscape, every newspaper tries to reach as many readers as possible, to convince as many advertisers as possible, and to reduce the costs. The influence of the publisher cannot, therefore, be overlooked. Often, a minimum of journalistic independence is safeguarded by putting this commitment in mission statements and by providing deontological codes on the interrelations between the publisher and the newsroom.
At the same time, our interviewees indicated no significant interference of owners on journalistic daily routines. This was also reflected in the nationwide journalist survey, in which most of the respondents declared being (somewhat) satisfied with the autonomy of their redaction in relation with influence of the marketing and commercial departments (Van Leuven et al., 2019). Politicians trying to influence journalists, on the other hand, is commonplace and almost daily practice. While journalists were ready to admit that this occurred frequently, they also asserted that they do not succumb to this political pressure because they feel protected by their media organisations.
