The Netherlands ranks fourth in the annual press freedom index of Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF), an increase of two places compared to last year. The organization does see a danger in the election results in the Netherlands. Worldwide there is a decrease in countries with good scores.
According to the journalist organization NVJ, the higher ranking does not mean that press freedom in the Netherlands has improved, although the Netherlands does score slightly better in the field of security.
Illegal surveillance
The improved score is partly due to the lawsuits against the suspects for the murder of crime reporter Peter R. de Vries and the man who threatened to kill TV presenter Tim Hofman. It is also important that PersVeilig, an initiative to protect journalism, continues to protect journalists. In addition, violence against journalists is decreasing.
The Netherlands scores worse in economic and legal areas. RSF believes, among other things, that journalists are insufficiently protected against lawsuits and illegal surveillance practices.
The RSF sees a danger in the PVV’s victory in the last elections. That result ‘can be seen as a risk to press freedom’, because Geert Wilders’ party ‘wants to abolish public broadcasting and attack the free media’.
‘Worrying trend’
In a response, the Dutch journalists’ union NVJ calls it a ‘very worrying trend that some politicians in The Hague do not attach great importance to press freedom’. “We have tried several times to enter into dialogue,” says spokesperson Paul Teixeira. “But these politicians who attack the press are rejecting any attempt at open, transparent dialogue.”
RSF director Ruth Kronenburg emphasizes that press freedom worldwide is under increasing pressure. “The freedom of the press is often the first human right that is violated. In addition, disinformation threatens the reliability of the media.”
There are more countries with worse scores this year. Last year, 52 countries had a good or fairly good score, now there are 45.
The Dutch journalists’ union is also concerned about the increasing number of reports to PersVeilig, which inventories aggression against journalists. “There are two specific groups that are being hit hard,” the NVJ leader explains. “So-called 112 photographers, who are at the front of incidents and often receive the full brunt of the public or emergency services. And female journalists. These are spoken to much more often about their appearance or behavior than men, especially on social media.”
Not normal anymore
He adds that the increase in reports may also be related to awareness. “In the past, people often thought: oh, that physical or verbal intimidation is part of it. That is normal. It is progress that the majority of people nowadays understand that this is not normal and should not become normal.”
Norway is at the top of the rankings for the eighth year in a row, followed by Denmark and Sweden.
Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan are at the bottom of the index. Previously these were North Korea, China and Vietnam. Every year, RSF evaluates the climate for journalists and independent media in 180 countries and territories.
Tags: Press freedom stable Netherlands pressure worldwide RTL News
