When NRC visited ombudsman Margo Smit in the summer of 2021 for an interview, she occasionally had to bite her teeth. Omroep Ongehoord Nederland (ON) had already started broadcasting on YouTube, but they could not say anything about the content of these programs. “I can only judge with hindsight,” she said. “That is the disadvantage of being an ombudsman.” As soon as ON started broadcasting as a public broadcaster on February 22, 2022, the ombudsman’s inbox filled up. Until June 1, she received 146 emails about the broadcaster. And those are only the serious complainers, “I have already filtered out the scolding”, Smit explains by telephone. By way of comparison: in 2020 more than 900 complaints were received. And that was a great year, because of the farmers’ protests and the corona crisis.
The ruling on ON is the most discussed issue concerning ombudsman Smit, who took office in January 2017. Earlier statements, such as in the case of alleged influence by D66 on a documentary about Sigrid Kaag, were often “cautious”, according to insiders at the public broadcaster. This time she was strikingly outspoken.
High standard
„This statement is a wake up call for all journalists to take their work seriously”, says journalist and director Yvonne Zonderop. She chaired the committee that appointed Smit as the first ombudsman. “And not everyone wants to hear that.” Zonderop says that Smit visualizes the view of viewers with makers. “At a time when anyone can call themselves a journalist, the public is demanding a higher standard from journalists.”
Smit also experienced how important it is for journalists to set high standards for themselves in her previous position, as director of the Association of Investigative Journalists (VVOJ), between 2009 and 2015.
In 2014, unrest arose among members, as procedures involving paid assignments – ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of euros – gave the appearance of a conflict of interest. Prominent members, including board members, were given priority in paid assignments such as giving journalistic courses. The agreement with the VVOJ was that they would ask for a margin of 10 percent to cover the association’s treasury. The board and Smit said in defense that “this may have been a sympathetic gesture, but not a transparent procedure”.
The board eventually resigned.
Smit, who before her directorship had earned her spurs at Two Today† RTL News and KROs reporter, remains primarily a journalist in her attitude and method as a director and later ombudsman. “A journalist provides facts and context, outlines and interprets patterns. The ombudsman does the same here,” she writes in the foreword to her ON investigation.
Since 2021, she has also chaired the International Club for Media Ombudsmen. As a result, she is busier than ever. After the rain of complaints about ON, an extensively motivated complaint from action group Extinction Rebellion about the alleged lack of urgency in the climate reporting of the public broadcaster awaits. “I can look for someone there,” she says happily.
“She speaks out while other parties in Hilversum are silent for procedural reasons,” concludes Zonderop. “Courage, isn’t it?”
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of 9 June 2022