MEDIA SELF-REGULATION IN THE NETHERLANDS The Netherlands Press Council Daphne Koene secretary SMF Project Serbia Amsterdam 11 November 2014
Why self-regulation? • • • • • •
freedom of expression and information fundamental human right cornerstone of democracy ‘public watchdog’ media accountability state-regulation vs self-regulation
History NPC • 1948
Raad van Tucht » disciplinary council » practice of union members
• 1960
Raad voor de Journalistiek » council of opinion » practice of all journalists
Establishment & financing Foundation - Stichting Raad voor de Journalistiek •
Netherlands Union of Journalists
•
Netherlands Society of Chief-editors
•
Co-ordinating organizations of printed press and multimedia news companies
•
Co-ordinating organizations of public broadcasting
•
Commercial broadcasting
Mission Article 3 of Statutes: Examination of complaints against violations of good journalistic practice • • • • •
complainant directly involved journalistic practice specific editorial content (all media) ‘watchdog without teeth’? moral redress
Composition Press Council • Chairman high profile journalist
• Vice-chairmen judiciary
• Journalist-members reporters/editors editors-in-chief
• Non journalist-members experts public members
Considering complaints in chambers
Procedure • • • • • •
complaint in writing / online no charge legal representation permitted public hearing consideration behind closed doors decision within 8 weeks
Recent developments - 1 March 2013: • Chairman is high profile journalist (no longer a lawyer), with important representing role. November 2013: • Transformation into a ‘secondary body’: obligation to file complain to journalist/editor-in-chief first; accelerated procedure and mediation abolished.
Recent developments - 2 November 2013 • Council withholds opinion in complaints addressed to media/journalists who basicly do not co-operate, unless case is of a higher/general importance. • Reducing ‘judicial’ appearance by simplifying decisions. Late-2014 • Guidelines will be revised in consultation with the journalistic field.
Alliance of Independent Press Councils of Europe • Annual meeting • 2015 in Vienna • info: Alexander Warzilek (
[email protected])
• • • •
Exchange of views and information Remarkable differences No ‘one-fits-all’ model www.aipce.net
Thank you for the attention!
[email protected] www.rvdj.nl
[email protected] @RVDJ_NL
