More focus on news and culture despite a loss of at least 150 jobs
One efficiently organized media business that stands for good and reliable journalism and appealing programs focused on the environment of the public. That is the core of the proposal which ROOS on behave of the Dutch regional broadcasters have offered to the Minister of Media Dekker.
An effective structure means that all energy can be put into the core task of the modern regional broadcasting: to inform, contribute tot the identity, strengthen the journalistic landscape and enable the inhabitants to be part of society as a critical citizen.
This radical restructuring also ensures that regional broadcasters eliminate the austerity of 17 million euros from the coalition agreement of the Dutch government though at the expense of 150 to 180 jobs.
The public first
In their proposal the regional broadcasters transform into the new public regional media business. The regional broadcasters will be giving the highest priority to the programmatically journalistic ambitions and the audience will be the number one priority.
The regional broadcasters contribute to the people with news, information and culture in a way that they are well informed and they recognize their surroundings, habitat and culture, participate critically and take fully part of that society.
A compact and efficient regional broadcast
In the future the regional broadcast will be controlled by one board Based on a concession of the government that board will develop and implement one joint policy. Currently every regional broadcaster has it's own board.
The general strategy, Human resources and Finance, Sales, Marketing and Technique will be organized broadcasting transcending and conducted in five broadcasting clusters. This leads to the cuts imposed by the government to the regional broadcasters, but it also leads to a loss of 150 to 180 jobs.
Thirteen autonomous editorials run by in principle thirteen chief editors are responsible for the content of the public service media mission. The anchoring of the individual region is guaranteed in this way and collaborative relationships may be develop to fit that region.
ROOS: "The proposal has the unanimous agreement of all thirteen broadcasters thereby opting for this new structure and future of regional broadcasting. We want to implement it as quickly as possible in order to focus on what we were meant to be doing in the first place: Providing a good range of media to- and about the region."
ROOS calls on minister Dekker to make a quick decision. This is necessary to deal with the effect in progress and to maintain support of broadcasters and Dutch provinces.
In a first reaction Dekker says that he is satisfied that the regional broadcasters present a common vision for the future in which the regions are more cooperative. Dekker: "The premise of the plan is that the cuts will not be at the expense of the quality of the programs. I think it is well chosen that the viewers and listeners are spared as much as possible, because for many people the regional broadcasting is an important and reliable source of information." Dekker does want to study the plan to see if the proposed changes in the organization structure of the regional broadcasters is the solution for the future.