Jos Baijens, teacher at the Fontys Hogeschool voor Journalism in Tilburg, entered into a conversation with King Willem-Alexander on Thursday. Baijens was critical last week about the king’s announced visit to the school. Willem-Alexander then invited him for a personal conversation, and Thursday was the day.
“I fear that it is only yes nodding, shaking hands and laughing,” he said to Omroep Brabant earlier. “Asking critical questions is not allowed. I find that problematic for a journalistic education.” He also bothered that director Gerrie Zwartjes called the visit ‘honorable’.
“The traffic was easy so he was on time,” the teacher looks back on the visit. “As a result, we had twenty minutes to talk to each other. He was energetic in it and the atmosphere was relaxed.”
“He said that he finds critical journalism very important.”
Among other things, they spoke about freedom of expression and critical training of students. “He said that he finds critical journalism very important, it is really dear to him.” Topics such as new media, social media, AI and how the king deals with news were discussed. “I think it is sporty for him to start the conversation and wanted to do that in all openness. He even liked to have an audience. That was surprising for me.”
Baijens also presented him some critical notes, but he managed to circumvent the king professionally. “He is reluctant to judge, because he simply cannot speak about everything. But he does not shy away from the conversation and I found that striking.”
After the conversation, the king was given a tour of the school. “Then you see that people are struggling in stress and standing up neatly,” says the teacher. “You will keep that, although I still don’t get it.”
As far as Baijens is concerned, writing his opinion piece has passed. He remains behind his opinion. “I have done my duty and showed that a critical debate can also be conducted about this. I hear from many students that they keep thinking about it. Everyone now sees: at this school is discussing and considered. Then we do well as a training.”
Response to Alexia and singer Antoon
King Willem-Alexander today responded in a talk show with students at the Tilburg school also to a question about the publication of photos on which his daughter Princess Alexia can be seen with singer Antoon. Students asked the king if he will start a lawsuit against the weekly magazine Privé, which published the photos. He did not answer it directly. He did, however, find freedom of press to “denounce abuses in society”.
The Government Information Service (RVD) previously referred to questions about the publication in private to the so -called MediaCode. Since 2005 it has been around to protect the privacy of members of the Royal House. The media code says that publication of “photos and videos that concern the private sphere” can be unlawful.
