Journalists interviewed as part of our study based their news stories on a large variety of news sources; for example, news agencies such as Reuters or Dutch press agency Algemeen Nederland Persbureau (ANP), their own network of sources, social media, input of information via the audience, and international, national, and regional media were their regular go-to for news stories. According to interviewee Piet Bakker, the two main sources for journalists were from the government at all possible levels, and also the ANP.
In summary, it can be said that any “news medium” worth its salt must check its sources, and extra caution is recommended when using social media such as Twitter or Facebook. Twitter is used as a barometer of society rather than a real news source. Information received from news agencies is trusted as such, although some journalists rely more on foreign news agencies or sources such as the British Broadcasting Corporation than on domestic news agency such as ANP. This is especially the case for foreign (financial) news production.
Generally speaking, investigative journalism is viewed as important, but the ability to invest time in research varies according to the type of media. Quality newspapers such as de Volkskrant and NRC Handelsblad invest more time and money in investigative journalism than radio news stations or popular newspapers such as De Telegraaf. Obviously, there is an enormous difference between those news media that focus on daily current affairs and all other types of news media. Daily newspapers such as De Telegraaf, television newscasts such as NOS Journaal, all-news radio stations such as BNR Nieuwsradio, and general websites such as nu.nl are less keen on research than a weekly publication such as De Groene Amsterdammer or investigative online platforms such as Investico or Follow the Money (FTM).
With regard to content exchange, Investico has paid partnerships with national media such as Groene Amsterdammer (weekly news magazine), Trouw (quality newspaper), Financieel Dagblad (specialist newspaper), Argos (radio news programme on NPO Radio 1), or Nieuwsuur, a television news programme on NPO 2) on the one hand, and with regional media such as versbeton.nl on the other. Investico is part of both the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism and the European team Investigate Europe, which lets it share, merge, and cross-check facts. Meanwhile, regional, national, and international news media organisations, such as The Courier, publish Investico articles on a regular basis.
While online platform FTM has no paid partnerships, it exchanges content on a regular basis with Flemish news website Apache, and once in a while with international news media outlets such as The Guardian and The Financial Times. Depending on the topic, FTM’s journalists work together with other European news outlets from the very start of a particular research project. The growing volume of internal content sharing within media companies is especially striking. Regional Mediahuis newspapers such as De Limburger frequently publish articles by national newspapers De Telegraaf and NRC Handelsblad. However, the reverse is not true. National newspapers do not reprint articles by regional newspapers, nor do De Telegraaf and NRC Handelsblad reprint the other’s pieces. The latter, meanwhile, does collaborate on a regular basis with its Flemish counterpart De Standaard. According to one of our interviewees, this collaboration has lasted for many decades, long before the news titles shared the same owner.
Such information sharing is also done at DPG Media, whose national newspaper Algemeen Dagblad and regional newspapers such as Twentsche Courant Tubantia collaborate on several news stories. Algemeen Dagblad provides national news to all regional titles, and major regional news (including some sports reporting) also appears in it. Within the FD Media Group, there is information sharing between the BNR Nieuwsradio station and the Financieel Dagblad (specialist newspaper), with the latter feeding news to the former. Other forms of collaboration at a national or international level are based on the network of journalists. For instance, there has been collaboration between NRC Handelsblad and public news and current affairs programme Nieuwsuur.
There is also a permanent collaboration between the 13 regional public broadcasters within the Foundation Regional Public Broadcasting. Although no structural cooperation has been set up, regional public broadcasters also share materials and images with the national public broadcaster. From 1 July 2020, NOS (part of NPO) and the regional public broadcasters started to operate the same app. Interestingly, while regional public broadcasters are keen to cooperate, regional newspapers remain reluctant.
Overall, journalists and editors-in-chief emphasised the need for a clear distinction between sponsored and journalistic articles, highlighting the importance of transparency about corporate advertising disguising as content. Public relations material is increasing, but interviewees insisted that they were under no significant pressure as part of their daily work.
The importance attached to reflection on and sensitivity to social diversity was dependent on the news medium. While it is part of the mission of the public broadcaster, private news media outlets such as VersBeton and regional newspaper Twentsche Courant Tubantia also include it in their statement. According to intervieweeJo Bardoel, the issue of gender diversity in news sources has gained some prominence on the agenda of news media in the last two decades. Additionally, giving a voice to both ethnic minorities and younger people is given importance as well.
