Dutch policies on issues such as refugees, drugs and euthanasia as well as breaking news, such as the recent murder of Theo van Gogh, frequently attract foreign media attention, prompting journalists to seek further information. In a bid to provide foreign news organizations with more information about current developments in Holland, Radio Netherlands has launched a new Media Desk.
The Radio Netherlands Media Desk offers background information on international and national issues, contacts, interviews with Radio Netherlands experts, as well as tailor-made clips. “People often want to know more,” says editor-in-chief Joop Daalmeijer, “about things such as Dutch policies on refugees, integration courses for imams or the deployment of Dutch troops in war zones. When foreign journalists have questions they usually turn to RNW because of our reputation as an independent and reliable news organization. And since we broadcast in eight languages, our journalists can address questions in several foreign languages.”
The recent murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, for example, triggered a flood of requests by foreign news organizations for contributions by our colleagues. Joop Daalmeijer: “Recently we have also received inquiries about ‘softer’ topics such as Holland’s smoking ban and Dutch aid to the tsunami victims in Aceh.”
The web site www.rnmediadesk.nl offers both current and in-depth information on a variety of topics, a database of experts working at RNW and many useful links to sites dealing with the Netherlands.