It could be that the infamous AD star Angela de Jong will become a direct colleague of the entire RTL star stable next year. “Shareholders will not like her criticism.”
If it is up to AD parent DPG Media, the current RTL Nederland will become the company’s TV branch from next year. The Flemish have made a bid of 1.1 billion euros for the video giant, but the ACM still has to give approval. If that happens, TV columnist Angela de Jong will be colleagues of the people she has to judge.
‘Don’t shit’
Will that still be possible? Of all places Show news – that’s funny – they worry about that. “There are many questions about: journalists like Angela de Jong, can they still be critical?” says presenter Dyantha Brooks.
Royal family expert Justine Marcella thinks so. “Yes, definitely Angela de Jong. I think that a journalist, it doesn’t matter where you work… Your journalistic independence is framed in gold.”
Dyantha: “They sometimes say: ‘Don’t shit where you eat.’”
William skeptical
Celebrity photographer William Rutten is more skeptical. “But what will happen? Imagine… She really does have power and if she really burns down a program completely, there is a chance that the program will simply flop. Angela de Jong is simply god in this world – we all know that.”
Dyantha interrupts him: “Weird that that is the case.”
William: “If she completely burns down a program and the viewer drops out. In some cases this could cost millions.”
Shareholders
DPG shareholders will not be happy if Angela constantly criticizes the company’s TV branch. “They have shareholders. Couldn’t a shareholder say: dude, we’re not very happy with that, because it costs a lot of money?”
Justine: “I just heard Sven Sauvé say that journalistic independence remains. We actually have that more or less in black and white, so Angela can just say with this fragment that has just been broadcast: ‘Hello, this is allowed.’”
Sensible
Dyantha, who as a Show News presenter knows all too well that criticism of her own ranks is not tolerated by any company, asks: “But do you think she would still do it? Would it still be wise?”
Show expert Eline de Ruig: “You think twice when you have your salary negotiations the next day…”
William: “Angela will do it. It is not for sale. I’m not so afraid of that. Hahaha.”
What does Johan say?
What does Johan Derksen say about it? He speaks Today Inside the expectation that the entire takeover will not go ahead. “That is frowned upon. And then immediately those stories in the newspaper that Angela de Jong can no longer write what she wants about RTL, because they are colleagues… It doesn’t work that way at all, man.”
He continues: “You have an editorial statute and it doesn’t work that way at all, man. You have an editorial statute and Van Thillo has no say in what is in the AD.”
Finally, Hélène Hendriks: “He will not be silenced.”
DPG responds
Erik Roddenhof, CEO of DPG Media, states A.D that Angela doesn’t have to worry. “As befits an independent journalist, you write what you consider sensible, so I expect Angela to remain as critical as she has always been. You decide for yourself where you will and will not join.”
“I’m a big fan of hers so I would be disappointed if that suddenly changed.”