A majority of the House of Representatives wants the rules of public broadcasting to be tightened, so that broadcasters can be taken off the tube more quickly if the rules are violated. The motion for a tightened sanctions policy is submitted on Thursday by PvdA MP Mohammed Mohandis. The motion is signed by GroenLinks as well as the coalition parties VVD, CDA, ChristenUnie and D66. The reason for the motion is the new broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland (ON), whose broadcasts have been discredited several times.
The most recent wave of criticism came after the broadcast of the opinion program Ongehoord Nieuws on September 15, about alleged ‘racist aggression’ by black people against white people. The n-word was used several times in the broadcast and a series of films were shown in which this so-called aggression would take place. A Research by Pointer (KRO-NCRV) showed, however, that there is no evidence that the videos contained a racist motive. The leadership of the NPO spoke in relation to the broadcast of “racist or discriminatory statements”.
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Since the broadcast, the Media Authority (CvdM) has started an investigation into the incident. This can lead to a fine of up to 540,000 euros (15 percent of the annual budget of 3.6 million). This would be the second fine imposed on ON, after a previous fine of 93,000 euros for violation of the journalistic code. In the event of a second sanction, a notification is made to the government, after which State Secretary Gunay Uslu (Media, D66) can decide to prematurely withdraw the five-year broadcasting permit.
Mohandis also wants to file a motion requesting that a broadcaster be automatically terminated after a second sanction. Uslu advised against that motion on Thursday morning. She finds “the consideration of a minister incredibly important in this regard”. It is not clear how many parties support this motion.
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