Ongehoord Nederland (ON or ON!, lit. 'Unheard Netherlands') is a Dutch public broadcaster. ON was founded in 2019 and entered the public broadcasting system in 2022. It frames itself as an alternative for the mainstream media and is generally associated with the radical right.[2]

History

Founding (2019–2021)

The idea for ON arose in a conversation in September 2019 between former war correspondent Arnold Karskens and publicist Joost Niemöller. Since 2017, Karskens had complained in his Zwartboek NOS Journaal about what he called one-sided reporting of the NOS Journaal. According to Karskens, "ON should stand up for people who advocate for Dutch culture, are critical of the EU, immigration, and the current plans to combat climate change." The broadcaster was founded on 25 November 2019, with former VVD MP Ybeltje Berckmoes and scenarist Haye van der Heyden as co-founders.[3] Their effort was supported by radical right parties Party for Freedom (PVV) and Forum for Democracy (FvD).[4]

To join the Dutch public broadcasting system, ON needed to gain 50,000 members by 1 January 2020.[3] They achieved this goal in mid-December.[4] This milestone would have allowed them to enter the system in January 2021, but the ongoing concession was extended by a year.[5] The Council for Culture, the Nederlandse Publieke Omroep, and the Dutch Media Authority all provided positive advice, despite strong objections. Concerns were raised that ON might use public funds to undermine the credibility of the NPO and the NOS. In July 2021, minister Arie Slob granted ON permission to enter as an aspirant broadcaster starting 1 January 2022 for a five-year period.[6]

Fines (2022–2023)

Shortly after launching, ON sparked controversy. The public broadcasting system's ombudsman determined that ON had violated the journalistic code within its first three months. Among the reasons cited was the insufficient rebuttal provided by journalists to their guests.[7] This included promoting conspiracy theories such as Omvolking[8] and the claim that the West provoked the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7] Following the ombudsman's conclusion, the NPO fined ON 2.5% of their 3.6 million budget.[9][10]

In September 2022, another significant incident occurred when Ongehoord Nieuws aired a clip alleging a racist incident where "whites are being beaten up by niggers." However, Pointer, an investigative journalism platform by KRO-NCRV, found no evidence supporting an anti-white motive for the violence. The other public broadcasters condemned ON's reporting, with the KRO-NCRV director even calling for ON's removal as a public broadcaster. The NPO subsequently fined ON for this incident.[9]

In January 2023, the NPO announced a third fine after the ombudsman determined that the second season of Ongehoord Nieuws had again violated the journalistic code.[11] This was followed in April 2023 by an NPO request to the state secretary to remove ON from the public broadcasting system.[9] However, in November 2023, state secretary Gunay Uslu announced that there were insufficient legal grounds for such a far-reaching decision.[12] The NPO later retracted the last two fines to give the broadcaster space "to meet the requirements set for all public broadcasters."[13]

Internal crisis

An internal crisis erupted during 2024. Ongehoord Nieuws presenter Raisa Blommestijn [nl] left in January 2025, after she was asked by Karskens to moderate her tone on social media. A few months earlier, she had made offensive remarks on X about someone's race, for which she was later convicted. Around the same time, five complaints were filed against media director Peter Vlemmix [nl], but after talks with employees, Vlemmix cleared the air. Karskens, meanwhile, attempted to dismiss a freelance employee he deemed antisemitic. However, this action was thwarted by his fellow board members, Vlemmix and Nienke van Herksen.[14]

In July, while Karskens was absent, Blommestijn approached Vlemmix and Van Herksen to accuse Karskens of humiliations and insults. A week later, an anonymous letter was circulated, alleging that Karskens fostered a toxic culture and suppressed criticism of the Schoof cabinet, which had recently been formed. Although the supervisory board claimed that Blommestijn was not the author, attributing the letter to 14 other current and former employees, Karskens, Herskens, and other employees recognized Blommestijn's style in the text. A subsequent letter from employees opposing the first letter was disregarded by the supervisory board. Instead, Karskens was suspended and later dismissed and expelled. Blommestijn was allowed to return.[14]

Replacing Karskens as editor-in-chief in early 2025 was co-founder Niemöller, who had left the broadcaster early on because he thought Karsken was too restrictive on such topics.[15] His appointment caused a lot of commotion because he had advocated for mandatory vaccination during the COVID crisis. Members, including Gideon van Meijeren and two of the three members of the supervisory board, left.[16]

Personnel

Editor-in-chief

  • Arnold Karskens (–2024)
  • Joost Niemöller (2025–present)

Board

Past members of ON's board included:

Controversies

Over the years, several prominent members of ON left because of controversies. Co-founder Van der Heyden left in December 2019, after he had stated in an interview that ON would be open to all opinions, including defending pedosexuality or denying the Holocaust.[19] Chair of ON's supervisory board, Taco Dankers, left in November 2021 after NRC had revealed antisemitic statements made by him and a foundation led by him.[20][21] His successor, Gert Jan Mulder, left in November 2024 after de Volkskrant revealed discriminatory statements.[22][23] Member of the supervisory board Rob Legeland resigned as well in November 2024, after de Volkskrant revealed discriminatory and racist statements.[24]

Programmes

In 2020 and 2021, ON created their own Black Pete show, after the Sinterklaasjournaal had stopped using Black Pete. Because they were not yet a public broadcaster, they broadcast the show on YouTube and their own website.[25] The programma was not allowed on television after they were allowed as public broadcaster.[9]

In February 2022, the aspirant broadcaster started with its first television programme Ongehoord Nieuws, twice a week around lunch time.[26] It started out categorised as news program, but was changed to opinion program in August 2022.[27] Presenters of the show include Raisa Blommestijn [nl] (2023–2024, 2024–present) and Arlette Adriani [nl].

References

  1. ^ a b Tienhoven, Gudo (25 November 2019). "Oprichters Ongehoord Nederland: Wij worden eerste Peter R. de Vries-vrije omroep" [Founders Ongehoord Nederland: We are the first Peter R. de Vries-free broadcaster]. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  2. ^ Beemsterboer, Toon; Hinke, Bart (11 April 2024). "Hoe de 'linkse' NPO mikpunt werd van populistisch rechts" [How the 'left-wing' NPO became the target of populist right-wing]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b Hinke, Bart; Heck, Wilmer (26 November 2019). "Ongehoord Nederland: omroep voor 'impopulaire ideeën'". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b Metselaar, Dylan (20 December 2019). "Ongehoord Nederland: doel van 50.000 leden behaald" [Ongehoord Nederland: Goal of 50,000 members achieved]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Verlenging van de lopende concessie en erkenningen van de landelijke publieke mediadienst met een jaar".
  6. ^ Nieber, Lineke (8 July 2021). "Minister Slob laat ON! en Zwart toe tot bestel, ondanks flinke bezwaren". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  7. ^ a b Hinke, Bart (7 June 2022). "NPO-ombudsman over Ongehoord Nederland: wie journalist is, is géén doorgeefluik". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  8. ^ Hinke, Bart (29 May 2022). "'Omvolking' op de NPO, het zat eraan te komen". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d Hinke, Bart (24 April 2023). "Hoe Arnold Karskens de NPO tot het uiterste dreef". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  10. ^ "NPO wil Ongehoord Nederland boete opleggen na rapport ombudsman". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2025. ON! krijgt jaarlijks 3,6 miljoen euro budget
  11. ^ "NPO wil omroep Ongehoord Nederland voor derde keer beboeten". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  12. ^ Spek, Tjarda van der; Hinke, Bart. "Ongehoord Nederland mag blijven uitzenden, staatssecretaris Uslu trekt vergunning niet in". NRC (in Dutch).
  13. ^ Spek, Boris van der (28 March 2024). "NPO trekt twee boetes in die waren opgelegd aan Ongehoord Nederland". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Hinke, Bart; Schoot, Ignace; Endedijk, Bram (9 February 2025). "Coup of angstcultuur? Hoe omroepbaas Arnold Karskens werd weggestuurd bij Ongehoord Nederland" [Coup or fear culture? How broadcasting boss Arnold Karskens was fired at Ongehoord Nederland]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  15. ^ Hinke, Bart (15 February 2025). "Verspreider van 'tegenpropaganda' Joost Niemöller wordt hoofdredacteur Ongehoord Nederland". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  16. ^ Quekel, Sebastiaan (25 February 2025). "Chaos Ongehoord NL compleet: 'Voorzitter geschorst, duizenden leden weg'" [Chaos Ongehoord NL complete: 'Chairman suspended, thousands of members gone.]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  17. ^ Ammelrooy, Peter van (5 August 2024). "Ongehoord Nederland kiest ex-PVV'er Beertema als interim-voorzitter". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Raad van Toezicht stelt nieuw directieteam Ongehoord Nederland aan" (in Dutch). 9 December 2024.
  19. ^ Unen, David van (4 December 2019). "Initiatiefnemer Ongehoord Nederland verlaat de omroep". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  20. ^ Hinke, Bart; Heck, Wilmer (2 November 2021). "Het machtigste lid van omroep ON verspreidt 'pure haat' tegen Joden". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Toezichthouder omroep ON per direct weg na ophef over antisemitische uitingen". NOS (in Dutch). 3 November 2021.
  22. ^ Griend, Robert van de (1 November 2024). "Gert Jan Mulder, de onzichtbare godfather van radicaal-rechts Nederland". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  23. ^ Groot, Joep de (2 November 2024). "Gert Jan Mulder vertrekt bij Ongehoord Nederland na commotie om discriminerende uitspraken". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  24. ^ Griend, Robert van de (27 November 2024). "Ook RvT-lid Rob Legeland opgestapt bij Ongehoord Nederland". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  25. ^ Takken, Wilfred (15 October 2020). "Ongehoord Nederland komt met eigen Zwarte Pietenjournaal". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  26. ^ Leeuwen, Marlies van (21 February 2022). "Eerste tv-uitzending Ongehoord Nederland meteen onderbroken door huldiging olympiërs". AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  27. ^ Jager, Nick de (16 August 2022). "Ongehoord Nieuws voortaan 'opinieprogramma' in plaats van actualiteitenrubriek". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 February 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ongehoord_Nederland
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