Dijkgraaf commends independent press in tertiary education

‘It is important that the editors of university magazines and college newspapers have the ability to operate independently’, outgoing minister Dijkgraaf stated in the House of Representatives. He will hold directors to account.

‘We are receiving disturbing accounts of increasing intimidation of journalists working for the independent university media’, Rosanne Hertzberger (NSC) stated in a meeting with the minister last night. ‘We have heard accounts of journalists being denied access to public gatherings and of directors demanding editors-in-chief withdraw certain articles.’

She qualified this as a deeply concerning trend. ‘We may end up with university media limited to happy news in cheerful glossies full of wonderful stories. I would like to paraphrase George Orwell: journalism is publishing that which others want to prevent from being published, and everything else is PR.’

University journalism is a ‘crucial countervailing power for the democracy within our educational institutes’, Hertzberger said, adding that the press also helps monitor the quality of education. ‘Hence, we want to hear from the minister how he intends to guarantee the university media’s freedom of press.’

Pressing issue

She was backed up by Luc Stultiens (GroenLinks-PvdA). ‘These are valid questions, and I fully support this pressing issue, on which we have also submitted questions.’

Stultiens submitted written questions about the situation at the TU Delft, to which Herzberger referred. There, the executive board demanded the journalistic platform Delta retract a piece on social safety. Moreover, Delta was denied access to a public meeting on the subject of social safety at the university.

But this is not the only incident. A conflict between the Eindhoven University magazine Cursor and the board arose over an article on the new rector’s suspected conflicts of interest. The chief editor was forced to resign, and the website was set to black in an act of protest.

There was also an incident at the Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen (HAN): the online platform SAM published an article on ‘bullshit jobs’, which angered the communications director to the extent he demanded his reaction be published above the article.

Two-pronged

Dijkgraaf’s response was two-pronged: he commended journalism but preferred not to get involved. ‘Independent journalism and freedom of press are of great value, particularly in the academic debate’, he stated in the House of Representatives. ‘Academic freedom is a frequent topic among us.’

But should he intervene? Dijkgraaf: ‘It is up to the academic community to safeguard academic freedom. The academic press is excellent at keeping people on their toes. Hence, university magazines and college newspapers must be able to operate independently.’

The minister intends to stay out of it. ‘The instates are responsible for safeguarding independent journalism and preventing these media from becoming PR flyers.’

Discuss

‘I, too, am concerned over the issues that have been reported’, the minister underscores. He believes the incidents show ‘some institutes are struggling’. He discusses these issues with university and college executives. ‘I did so recently and am told it is an issue that they intend to keep addressing and discussing.’

‘I fully support the importance of this issue. Having an independent press is a great element that is part of our university and college culture and is also a perfect incubator for future journalists, as I have seen.’

The last comment was a reference to NSC representative Rosanne Hertzberger, who started out as an editor for Leiden University magazine Mare and went on to write columns for the NRC daily newspaper. She is married to journalist Arjen van Veelen, who also started his career at Mare.

Circle of editors-in-chief

The Circle of Editors-in-chief of university and college media sent the minister a letter at the end of April. ‘The problem of executives and corporate directors pressuring editors continues to emerge’, the letter states. ‘It is always followed by outrage, for example, among yourself and one of your predecessors, Jet Bussemaker.’

‘We call on you as the (outgoing) minister to return journalistic freedom to the university and college media as your last feat’, the letter concludes. But the minister leaves that to others.

Also read:

Independence of university magazines disputed for decades

‘Threatening legal action and intimidation is unacceptable’

[update] University magazine Delft pressured into taking article on misconduct offline