Art Rooijakkers can only survive on the right-wing TV news of SBS 6 if he can get along with Wierd Duk again and join VI, thinks Victor Vlam. “Rehabilitate.”
In fact, Art Rooijakkers has been 10-0 behind since the start of the right-wing SBS 6 newscast Nieuws van de Dag. In the run-up to the program, he was structurally ridiculed in Today Inside, to such an extent that the management of Talpa asked Johan Derksen to spare him a little. That is how much confidence there is in Art.
Art cuts off
Art is seen by critics as too woke and last week he was already in a conflict with Wierd Duk, the leader of the right-wing Telegraaf guests who joined the program, in his second broadcast. It really got a bit grim, because Art told the journalist that he is not supposed to give a ‘speech’. Quite derogatory.
It is a difficult situation, says media critic Victor Vlam in the podcast The Communicados. “I think Wierd Duk is well liked by the supporters of this program. Look, Wierd Duk also knows that this probably does not apply to Art Rooijakkers and that of course makes it much easier for Wierd Duk not to be cut off.”
Bad position
Wierd will have no difficulty in seeking confrontation with Art, according to Victor. “Because he knows that the viewer’s sympathy will almost by definition lie with him and not with Art Rooijakkers. I think that also makes it more difficult for Art Rooijakkers to present the program well.”
“I think the problem for Art is that he cannot get into a discussion with Wierd without losing it in the eyes of the viewers and that shows his bad position.”
Rehabilitate
What should Talpa do with Art? “I honestly think that if Talpa wants to give him a chance, you have to rehabilitate him a little bit. This has really been harmful to him. Personally, I’m also willing to give him a chance. He switched for this. They’re not going to dump him after one week, so I think that’s unlikely.”
“Of course, he doesn’t have to be right-wing to present that program. He just has to be fair. Jeroen Pauw has probably never voted for a right-wing party in his life, so I am really willing to give Art a chance. What I think needs to happen is two things to rehabilitate him.”
Visiting Vi?
First of all, Art must quickly get back to the table with Wierd, according to Victor. “And that they have to show that they can get through one door. That things are good between the two. The second thing that should happen is that Art joins VI at some point. Not at De Oranjewinter, but really at VI, because that is precisely where he has been criticized and attacked.”
“And of course they will make a lot of jokes about you, but you just let that happen. You laugh it off. And then the viewer’s impression is: he’s quite a nice guy. That is ultimately what you can achieve. That may be enough to ensure that he at least has sufficient credibility with the viewer.”
Huge
Isn’t rehabilitation a bit of a strong word for what needs to be done with Art? “Well, it’s not just that one riot. It’s the fact that he has had a left-wing image in the past, so if you look at how much criticism there was from the right-wing supporters of the program… It was really huge. Really gigantic. A lot.”
“It was number two trending topic in the Netherlands on Twitter at that time and almost everything and everyone was negative about Art. So yes, I do think it is really a matter of rehabilitation, yes.”