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MEDIAHUIS JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT 2020

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20 CONTENTS

PREFACE ESSAY THE IMAGE OF 2020

4 GERT YSEBAERT 6 PETER VANDERMEERSCH 22 SILVER CAMERA CEO PUBLISHER OF INDEPENDENT AWARD-WINNING SERIES ON ILLNESS NEWS & MEDIA AND DEATH - BY PHOTOGRAPHER KEES VAN DE VEEN

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF ON 2020 TITLES

BELGIUM 40 A SELECTION OF FRONT PAGES

10 INDRA DEWITTE 12 RENÉ MOERLAND HET BELANG VAN LIMBURG NRC 14 KAREL VERHOEVEN 16 CORINE DE VRIES DE STANDAARD , 34 LIESBETH VAN IMPE , HET NIEUWSBLAD DE GOOI- EN EEMLANDER, 48 KRIS VANMARSENILLE GAZET VAN ANTWERPEN AND IJMUIDER COURANT 20 PAUL JANSEN IRELAND 28 RIA KRAA 18 BRIAN FARRELL 32 SANDER WARMERDAM 30 ALAN ENGLISH SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 38 ERIK WIJNHOLDS 36 EOIN BRANNIGAN BELFAST TELEGRAPH 42 BJORN OOSTRA 46 CORMAC BOURKE & INDEPENDENT.IE LUXEMBOURG 50 JIM HAYES INM REGIONALS 44 ROLAND ARENS 52 ALAN STEENSON LUXEMBURGER WORT 20

3 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 PREFACE

Mediahuis’s core business ever waste a good crisis. difficult circumstances. Because it’s their passion I can’t tell you how many and their mission. is journalism. And reliable, times I’ve been reminded independent journalism proved of this quote by Winston ith this first annual report on Mediahuis Churchill since March last journalism, we go to the heart of our place more important than ever W year. Any crisis is a gift for in society. We are a company of journalists, with in 2020, the year in which the media; that’s always leading titles that play a crucial role in the society been the case. And it was no in which they work. Each with its own voice, wor- a virus shut down the world. different when a new virus from China set about king in complete editorial independence. It was a daily support that came Nconquering the world in early 2020. Covid-19 brought the world grinding to a halt. But it also Our editors-in-chief have shared their ex- in many different guises. forced us to focus. perience of the past year in The Biggest Story of our Life. While society was undergoing enormous The past year was supposed to be a special change, they touched readers’ hearts with human one for Mediahuis, something we had all worked interest stories. Getting the tone right proved towards for a long time. It would become much a delicate exercise, remaining critical of policy A crisis more than that: 2020 was a pivotal year. Thanks to decisions while showing responsibility. In the its digital reach, consumption of our news media deluge of virus-related news, there was also room went through the roof. People turned to us en for strong investigative journalism. There were masse for accurate reporting amid the informati- also more innovations than ever, starting with year, but on chaos. We were the guide that people needed the podcasts our readers could listen to on their to safely navigate through their daily life. More many Covid walks. than anything else, however, our readers valued our reliable, independent journalism. After years he concept of ‘fake news’ reached new levels not for of declining sales of print , our titles, Tin 2020. Even our traditional media were un- or rather their digital formats, posted good results. wittingly dragged into this fierce infodemic. The cautious trend of recent years received a Unfortunately, this phenomenon will not disap- major boost across all our titles. And that’s how pear with the virus. Mediahuis has become a journalism our journalism tipped convincingly towards a major media company, and that brings great sustainable digital model. responsibility. It’s now up to us to prove we are worthy of this trust. I am, of course, proud of our superb results after such a turbulent year. But, above all, I’m Enjoy your read PHOTO BY IRIS PLANTING proud of the large group of driven men and wo- men, who give the best of themselves in the most Gert Ysebaert CEO Mediahuis

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 5 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 ESSAY

PETER VANDERMEERSCH Publisher of Independent News and Media (Irish Independent, Sunday Independent, The Herald, Belfast Telegraph, Sunday World...) Media, show us

ost journalists like to use dramatic your language. Events are “historic”, numbers are “unprecedented”, consequences are “horrific”. Journalism, around the world, would sometimes be better off if we used words more pre- cisely and language that is, frankly, a little bit less overblown. Having said that, in this article I shall use some big words, because this article is about big things. It’s about the nature engine of journalism itself and about trust in journalism and, closely linked to this, about trust in our democratic system and the rule of law.

It’s easy for me to remember the exact year I decided to become a journalist: it was 1976. I was 15 years old, and I was leaving a cinema in Bruges, the Belgian city where I grew up. room I had just seen, for the third time that week and unknown to my parents (who would think I had lost my mind), “All The President’s Men”. For many journalists of my generation, this film about Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein investigating Journalism has become more important than ever. the Watergate scandal, which forced US president Richard Nixon to step down, was a vocational awakening. I would But to win its readers’ trust, media must become more PHOTO BY FRANK RUITER become a journalist (yes, I saw myself as Robert Redford), transparent. And yes, that is often scary. and challenge the powers that be.

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In this world, journalism has become more important delman considers four crucial dimensions with than ever before. The media’s difficult, and sometimes regard to trust: ability, integrity, dependability painful, search for the real facts and the nuanced truth is a E and purpose. Applied to the journalistic sphere, crucial part of our society. When we no longer agree about it involves the following: what the facts are, how can we organise democratic society and how can we uphold the rule of law? All over the world, we need media organisations, journalists, editors, photogra- In the midst of this phers, bloggers, publishers, producers and columnists who, in the midst of an infodemic, are searching for an informa- pandemic, media tion vaccine, even though they know they will never find perfect answers and realise that they fail every single day. ABILITY must look for an Yet they have to try over and over again. Are we good at what we do? Do we information vaccine o, which journalists and media organisations should we trust and why should we trust them? Aren’t they provide the most engaging content? S also operating in their own bubble? Don’t they have Do we offer this on platforms and in an agenda too? Don’t they also make mistakes? Aren’t they in the business of making money? Aren’t they working formats that work for the readers? under commercial pressures or according to ideological lines?

Of course. At Mediahuis, we increasingly realise that INTEGRITY it would be very presumptuous for us to take the trust of our readers for granted. Just because we are part of a large Are we honest? Do we only publish European media company with renowned legacy brands, it orty-five years later and the world is slowly beginning doesn’t mean we can automatically rely on our readers’ trust. content that is accurate and true? would suggest adding one more element in the context to recover from another American president, Donald Sometimes the opposite can be true. We have to earn that Are we managed by people with integrity? of trust in media: transparency. Media has been a black F Trump. According to him, the media is the “the enemy trust, with everything that we do, every day. Above all, we I box for too long. Obviously, we have a duty to protect of the people”. He introduced the term “fake news” into are very well aware that trust comes on foot, but it leaves on our sources, but this cannot be used as an excuse to avoid everyday language. His former advisor Kellyanne Conway horseback. behaving in a much more transparent way. We just have to explained to us that there were facts and there were “alter- work harder to get our sources on the record (the number native facts”. The words and attitude of the most powerful That is why we have decided to launch a trust pro- DEPENDABILITY of anonymous sources in our papers is too high). We have leader in the Western world and his entourage were enthusi- gramme within our group. Since trust is such a crucial part to tell our readers/listeners/viewers what we did to get astically echoed not only by “strong men” in Russia, the Phil- of what we do, we want to understand how we can enhance Do we keep our promises? Do we enable this story (How many people did we talk to? Where are the ippines and Turkey, but also by leaders of populist parties in the trust of our readers in our editorial organisations, our our journalists to report the news without gaps?). We have to talk to our readers about our ethical European democracies. brands and our journalism. standards (Did we accept a free stay in the hotel we are bias or restrictions? writing about?) and our methods (Do we pay for meals in the During the Trump administration, it became clear to In the last quarter of 2020, we decided to launch a pilot restaurants we review?). We have to admit and correct our many people that we are fighting not only a pandemic but project with three of our Irish brands: the Irish Independent errors clearly. We have to be open to answering questions also a dangerous “infodemic”. In the world of social media, (the biggest-selling daily in Ireland, Monday-Saturday); the from readers. We see ourselves as the watchdog, but we driven by powerful algorithms, there is less and less distinc- Sunday Independent (the biggest Sunday in the PURPOSE have to allow others to keep a close eye on that watchdog. tion between facts and fiction, between your truth and mine, country) and our website Independent.ie. To start building between genuine and false. We are all living in the prison of this project, we asked the Irish branch of Edelman, a com- Do we work hard to have a positive Enabling critics to look into our engine room could be our own news bubbles, where “our” truth is constantly being munications firm founded in Chicago in 1952, to measure the painful for journalists and our media organisations. Never- repeated and reinforced. At the same time, we are living in level of trust in these brands. Twenty years ago, Edelman impact on society? Do we make sure that theless, I am convinced that if we work on our transparency, a world in which a handful of people in Silicon Valley can developed a Trust Barometer, an annual survey of the trust our journalists operate according to fair ability, integrity, dependability and purpose, we will increase decide whether your voice is heard on Twitter, YouTube and and credibility of the world’s four major institutions – gov- trust. Stronger trust in journalism could be one of the essen- Facebook. ernment, business, media and NGOs. and ethical standards? tial ingredients of a better society.

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We have adapted to the new normal, but the heart of our trade remains the same

roud. That’s the first The digital transformation taking place bracing new journalistic platforms, we word that comes to mind everywhere was now being driven from are more accessible than ever; we have when I look back on the the ground. More possibilities, simpler never reached so many people. Which past Covid year Every- tools, better ways of consulting, faster is great. But it’s also true for the count- one, from the first to the platforms, more data analysis: we less vloggers and bloggers, twittering last link in the journalistic wanted it all and we wanted it now. politicians and armchair journalists. Pprocess, has learned to work differently They profit equally from this digital from one day to the next. The content fter a year of unprecedented acceleration, making the need for INDRA DEWITTE Het Belang van Limburg is the largest we made during the first year of the Aflexibility and – to use that ugly independent, reliable journalism even EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HET BELANG VAN LIMBURG regional newspaper in . pandemic was brilliant, and the way in word – agility, we can say we did a hell greater. That’s the key to this story: It looks at everything that happens in the region of Belgian Limburg and which we made it was even better. Suc- of a job. Online and in print. Not a day we have adapted to the new normal, in the world. The newspaper plays a cessive lockdowns forced us to accel- has gone by without a paper in the let- but the heart of our trade remains the strong connecting role in the Limburg erate our digital transformation. This terbox of each of our subscribers. Our same. Conquering the community. was necessary just to survive. Suddenly digital publications were an anchor our dear editorial groups and confer- for our readers. And we did it all from www.hbvl.be digital world from ences were torn apart and locked away our homes. If you’d told our editors Founded in separate boxes, barely visible on 18 months ago that this would be the 1933 Zoom and Teams screens. situation, they would have laughed (or cried). But we still did it. the living room Daily readership print 423,250 But that didn’t break us. Quite the opposite, in fact. This is why we got into journalism. For the newsroom, ‘digital first’ was suddenly Daily readership online We’ve informed people and provid- 195,040 more than just a marketing term in 2020. rom journalists and sub-editors to ed them with context in particularly page designers and photographers, difficult circumstances. Journalism Podcasts F The journalists were on it right away. And readers Van moord tot verdict, Waar is Elke from news managers to reception: we during a pandemic is a bit like during a followed, in search of reliability. Wevers?, HBVL Sportcast, Limpop all went in search of new skills and war: at times like this, there is greater & In de ban van de wolf knowledge. We learned and adapted. need than ever for reliable informa- We dragged around screens and office tion. That’s demonstrated by people’s Journalists employed 63 chairs and talked about how best to media and reading habits during this work from our living rooms. And yes, crisis year. Our readers have tested Number of subscribers (print + digital) we came up against obstacles. Sud- and approved our work, and they have 82,998 denly, “digital first” was more than just followed us into the digital world. a marketing term; it was necessary if

we were to do our work. Speed dates Undoubtedly, Covid-19 will continue Front page of the weekend paper with our digital boys and girls followed. to have an impact on our job. By em- (17 & 18 October) of Het Belang van Limburg.

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et’s begin with a story that public agenda that are under the radar. reports focused not on herself but on has nothing to do with One result is that the question of na- the brave Belarussian women she met coronavirus. In September tional management of spatial planning in hospital. At the end of the year, she 2020, the biggest wind is now on the political agenda. sought them out. farm in the Netherlands opened in the Wieringer- There was plenty more agenda-set- inally, something we are particularly Lmeer polder, in North Holland. Its ting research. Some examples: media Fproud of. On 26 September, the promise: to produce green energy for editors Lineke Nieber and Reinier Kist NRC Audio app went live, with the best no fewer than 370,000 households. exposed how, despite a ban, the popu- podcasts from a number of media and lar network Tiktok was collecting data makers. And with a growing number Journalists Carola Houtekamer and from young children without asking of exclusive NRC podcasts, such as Merijn Rengers had already revealed their parents’ permission. Cocaïnekoorts (about serious crime), in NRC back in June that this promise Hans (about the pain and dilemmas wasn’t going to be kept. Alongside the A 14,000-word reconstruction by of dementia) and Future Affairs, a turbines, Google and Microsoft data Mark Lievisse Adriaanse and Derk two-weekly exploration of our tech- RENÉ MOERLAND NRC focuses on curious citizens who centres are also springing up and the Stokmans about the first wave of coro- nological future with exciting thinkers. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NRC want to make their own informed multinationals have bought up all the navirus showed how the Netherlands That’s how NRC is taking the lead in the decisions. Subscribers can choose the morning or afternoon version of the green energy. Local authorities were overestimated its control over the promising development of audio in our newspaper (in print or digitally) and can unable to prevent it. virus. Very enlightening, and it helped (digital) newspaper company. Mean- read articles on nrc.nl at any time of to explain what later went wrong with while, our flagship of audio journalism, Agenda-setting the day. n important story, which led to Dutch corona policy. the daily NRC Vandaag, has grown into a lot of discussion. And it isn’t an the number one current affairs podcast www.nrc.nl A isolated story. In the coming decades, he sports desk wasn’t deterred by in the Netherlands. journalism, Founded the Netherlands’ landscape is going to Tcancelled competitions. Through 2006 change dramatically. To make energy 17 remarkable interviews with black production sustainable, hundreds of footballers, including André Onana, without an agenda Daily readership print 401,800 windmills and vast fields of solar panels Denzel Dumfries and Royston Drenthe, will be needed. There are already Bram Endedijk, Enzo van Steenbergen Dutch energy is bought up by Google and Daily readership online shortages ahead, but who saw that and Danielle Pinedo shone a spotlight 363,000 Microsoft. Tiktok collects data from young coming? Houtekamer and Rengers on racism in football. Brain damage in also discovered that data centres have sport? Evidence of the risks is sys- Podcasts children, and black footballers talk about NRC Vandaag, NRC Haagse Zaken, been set up in the polders around the tematically pushed aside in the sports racism. Stories by NRC, for readers and listeners. NRC Onbehaarde Apen, NRC Future small municipality of Zeewolde that world at home and abroad, Endedijk Affairs & NRC Onder de Streep by around 2030 will consume two to and van Steenbergen showed in re- three times the amount of energy that search that became international news. Journalists employed 214 the city of Amsterdam does. Colleague Hester van Santen learned that plans to Our correspondent Emilie van Ou- Number of subscribers (print + digital) produce hydrogen in Noord-Nederland teren saw for herself how repressive 293,170 will increase energy demand by 35%. the regime of president Lukashenko in Belarus is. Injured by a stun grenade,

We are proud of this sort of investi- she ended up in hospital, from where The NRC Audio app, launched gation. It brings developments to the she stoically continued to report. Her on 26 September.

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In normal times, a chart is the start of journalism. In 2020, the chart was the news

or a year now, we’ve been outsourced their truth-seeking to the economy. Accurate reporting on this living by the grace of num- experts. requires the input of lots of journa- bers. We see them in the lists. We learned to work with half a curve of infections, hospital e Standaard avoided this bleak dozen editors on a single piece or a admissions, deaths and, Ddynamic. We owe that partly to single theme, each of them from home. since the start of 2021, vac- coincidence. Two months before the WhatsApp became invaluable, allowing Fcinations. The curve defines what rem- coronavirus hit, we established a new us to discuss throughout the day what nants of freedom we retain. In normal science team. The editors are speci- we want to explore, who to challenge, times, a chart is the start of journalism. alists, with academic qualifications in which questions to ask, what the line is In 2020, the chart was the news. biology, statistics, biomedical science, and what details were needed. We now KAREL VERHOEVEN De Standaard seeks answers to the health and disease, the economy of life open the paper and website with more EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DE STANDAARD important questions of our time, That was a gap, and we’ve embraced and death, vaccines and the pharma thorough and comprehensive articles. sketches the broad perspective and provides the reader with what is it since the beginning. Understanding industry. They read the studies in pro- It’s a way of working that we also want worthwhile in a broad social context. what we’ve experienced can only be fessional journals, including those not to apply to the climate, to develop- done by accurately reading the num- yet peer reviewed, that virologists and ments in social media or the digital Restoring humanity www.standaard.be bers. Statistics are notoriously flexible. epidemiologists rely on. They quote economy, to every subject that makes Strict virologists, politicians and those relevant scientists as sources, not as the world flexible. It delivers more re- Founded 1918 calling for relaxation of rules use them oracles. Each report is supported by liable journalism in a complex reality. to the dead for their own ends. Nobody who wants multiple sources, as the journalistic Daily readership print to seek the truth can hand over their method demands. They draw lines so ut the coronavirus was of course An editorial team that doesn’t want to be 480,760 journalistic role to “the scientists”. And that the reporting is consistent, despite Bnot just numbers and data. We yet experts ruled in Flanders, on the all the twists and turns they want to were in the care homes, in the hospi- controlled by experts needs its own expertise. Daily readership online 317,028 television and in many papers. be the first to report. Their journalism tals, and with the children who had no Just before the corona crisis began, provides guidance and confidence computer at home. We got the most Podcast t first, that seemed like a blessing. for readers. Confidence, too, in what intense reactions from our special De Standaard created a new science team. De Standaard Podcast ARespect for science had returned. we don’t yet know and the degree of edition of the Weekblad, at the end of But data says nothing without stories. Journalists employed But the journalistic limitations soon uncertainty. June, in which we remembered the 110 became clear. The word of experts first 10,000 coronavirus deaths. How to became news, though it was often just We have achieved this primarily commemorate a life if there can’t even Number of subscribers (print + digital) a matter of interpretation or predicti- through teamwork. Intense teamwork be a funeral, when people are remem- 109,959 on. An opinion. Based on uncertainty has become one of our most important bered in the most austere circumstan- and unknown factors. Their judgement journalistic achievements of 2020. That ces? The mass of death at a distance, then becomes policy. Their words tur- sounds obvious: of course the paper without a proper farewell, is undoub- ned out to be law. Their media forum and website need teamwork. But corona tedly the most affecting experience of was a power stage. The backlash duly went right through the lines that sepa- 2020. In this corona year, giving victims arrived, with smear campaigns against rate the editorial team. Science affects their humanity back was our most these experts – especially in media that politics which has partly overtaken the important achievement.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 14 15 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 NOORDHOLLANDS DAGBLAD

ithout highly among readers. Our readers like transferred billions of euros to its data, our well-developed, well-written stories. parent company in India. It was written newsroom And they want to pay for it, according by Bart Vuijk, who spent years working wouldn’t have to our fast-growing subscriptions. on the case, despite the active opposi- realised how tion he encountered at Tata. Working interested f course, we are also proud of with an independent accountant, Vuijk ourW readers were in the fate of the O our world-first report that broke released a thorough analysis of more 140-year-old artisan bakery Bos in Den through the taboo of transgressive than 50 annual reports. In a series of Helder. It went bankrupt in February, behaviour in gymnastics: Marco articles, he described meticulously how and the first short online report got Knippen’s interview with coach Gerrit the financial structures worked. lots of hits. The newsroom could see Beltman. For the first time, a renowned immediately that the visitor numbers coach confessed that he had mistreat- omething completely different were rocketing. We quickly decided ed his students, and his confession was Swas our online memorial day, a to send a journalist to report on it, we supported in our papers by testimo- special end to the months-long project interviewed the owner, wrote about nies from 10 gymnasts. From The New commemorating the last witnesses to crowdfunders who had lost their mon- York Times to Der Spiegel and from liberation 75 years ago. On 4 May, we ey and a few days later published an Sporza to the Straits Times in Singa- offered more than 50 local liberation CORINE DE VRIES Noordhollands Dagblad is the quality analysis piece about the state of artisan pore, many overseas media reported committees and other small initiatives EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NOORDHOLLANDS DAGBLAD, newspaper of Noord-Holland with daily bakers across the Noordkop. Each of on this. In the Netherlands, it led to a digital stage for mini memorials, stories about current affairs, sport, HAARLEMS DAGBLAD, DE GOOI- EN EEMLANDER, health and culture. Regional, national these remarkably popular pieces was questions in parliament, an independ- filmed by our own journalists. From LEIDSCH DAGBLAD AND IJMUIDER COURANT and international. based on solid journalism that brought ent inquiry and the temporary scrap- the Last Post and laying of wreaths to good copy for the paper and delivered ping of the top gymnastics programme poems and interviews: multiple videos www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl new subscriptions too. for women. from across our patch appeared online every hour for 12 hours. It’s a great Founded Missing Tata millions 1893 n 2020, the regional newspapers of Also special was the extensive finan- example of how closely connected the IMediahuis Netherlands -– Noordhol- cial investigation into how Tata Europe paper is to the region. Daily readership print lands Dagblad, Haarlems Dagblad, De and the bankrupt 301,600 Gooi- en Eemlander, Leidsch Dagblad Daily readership online and the IJmuider Courant – switched to 92,000 web-first and data-informed opera- baker – the reader tions. We now have numerical insight Podcast into our subscribers’ interests and reg- AZ ularly adapt our journalistic choices to wants it all Journalists employed them. We write better, faster and more 100 frequent follow-ups, we publish more An international scoop about transgressive behaviour personal stories, and we write more Number of subscribers (print + digital) often about the effects of the hous- 102,929 in gymnastics and exposing the flow of money from ing market, about restaurants, shops, Tata Europe to India. This is local journalism too. hair salons and bankruptcies. We are quicker to go out on the street to speak with eyewitnesses, and we invest in Michel Dinkelberg of De Backery investigative journalism. It’s encourag- in Schagen. ing to see that a thorough reconstruc- PHOTO BY tion of regional politics also scores JOHN OUD

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he world changed in the Netherlands and Belgium, was numbers of daily users and pageviews beyond all recognition proof positive of the Mediahuis vision have grown steadily. Currently, we are in 2020 – and in the and commitment to expansion in the tracking ahead of all targets and have Sunday World it was no media industry. gone from a figure of zero users on 12 different. Through the early months of the October to a daily average of 55,000. Although the upheaval pandemic, as staff wrestled with the Our app traffic has also grown signif- Tcaused by the Covid-19 pandemic has problems posed by remote working, icantly in that period, and we are fast been widely felt across our industry, large-scale meetings were held daily approaching 20,000 downloads. what the past few months have taught and decisions on concept, content and Allied to the success of the website, us is that there is a growing appetite operational matters were taken. we have also launched a new weekly for trusted news and exclusive content. Interviews with prospective staff crime podcast spearheaded by our When the virus struck in early March, journalists were conducted via video investigations editor, Nicola Tallant. many of our competitors were affected link and, while we have yet to meet our The podcast, Crime World, delves into by dropping circulation figures, the new colleagues in person, our trust in the murky domestic and international hindrance of remote working, and a the process has been justified. underworld and has proved to be a general downturn in the country’s huge hit with our audience. In its first economic outlook. t the outset, a provisional launch three months, Crime World has regu- The Sunday World, however, contin- Aschedule of late October/early larly topped the Apple podcast charts BRIAN FARRELL Sunday World offers its readers a ued to be the shining light in the Irish November had been set for our new and has outperformed other, more EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUNDAY WORLD weekly dose of crime reporting, tasteful tabloid market and, through its mix of website, not allowing for any interrup- established titles. showbiz stories, entertainment news and sport. hard-hitting crime stories, undercover tions caused by a little-known virus. investigations and wacky tales from However, under the direction of Peter he year 2020 will long be re- www.sundayworld.com hidden Ireland, it managed to outper- Vandermeersch, the Sundayworld. Tmembered for Covid-19 and the Yes, they were form its circulation budget for the year. com website and app were successfully negative effect on many industries – Founded As others curtailed their ambitions launched on 13 October 2020. however, in the Sunday World, it will 1973 bad times. during the Covid crisis, we decided to In the intervening months, we forever be associated with a bright, Daily readership print forge ahead with our ambitious plan have been hugely encouraged as the digital dawn. 526,000 to launch Sundayworld.com – our title’s new website – a project that had But also a new Daily readership online 55,000 been given the green light in the final months of 2019. Podcast beginning Crime World ebuting an online news site might have seemed like a difficult prop- Journalists employed D For the Sunday World, 2020 was a year of 30 osition in normal circumstances, but digital dawn. Starting an online news site amid to undertake such a task while working remotely – and with colleagues and a pandemic was extremely challenging. departments who in many cases had But it’s there now. And it’s a success. never worked together – was a mam- moth challenge. However, the collaborative effort from our journalists, T&I experts, designers and colleagues in marketing The Sundayworld. com website and and advertising, as well as the direction app were launched and assistance from our counterparts on 13 October.

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he best speech of his media have a responsibility. But it is gossip and spin. When we were the last life. That was the reac- precisely when a government takes European country to begin vaccinating, tion after the historic far-reaching measures that limit public health minister Hugo de Jonge first TV address that citizens’ freedom that journalists must waved away criticism by saying that prime minister Mark fulfil their role as watchdog. That can other countries had only carried out a Rutte gave about the mean going against the prevailing sen- symbolic first jab. Our editorial team Tcoronavirus crisis in the spring of 2020. timent, even among our own readers. checked that out. His statement proved Millions were glued to their television, to be untrue and we reported this and there was huge support for gover- eaders remain deeply divided prominently. Shortly after, the deputy nment policy. Rutte is a master when it Rover the coronavirus policy. An prime minister withdrew his claim. comes to communication. unprecedented number support all the actions to suppress the virus. Others t De Telegraaf, we will never be So the crisis communication during consider the approach exaggerated. A a paper that pleases everyone. the pandemic was good, but what This group points to the immeasu- Sometimes we are told we are sowing about the crisis management? De Tele- rable social and economic damage panic or sensationalism, at other graaf was one of the first news outlets being done. Both groups point to the times we are not critical enough or PAUL JANSEN De Telegraaf is an institution in to point out the weak spots last year. newspaper. Because in times of rising too fearful of authority. Both opinions EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DE TELEGRAAF the Dutch media landscape. It’s a The National Institute for Public Health emotions, more than ever, people want are allowed. An outspoken newspaper newspaper that leads the conversation and has a clear opinion. De Telegraaf and the Environment had issued con- confirmation that they are right. elicits outspoken reactions. But you is for people with a clear opinion who flicting advice, the government measu- need to have read our articles, listened dare to take a stand. res to limit the virus were faltering, For me, this underlines the impor- to our podcasts or watched our videos. We aren’t here to there was a possible lack of intensive tance of independent journalism. Not Because what applies to judging the www.telegraaf.nl care beds and, above all, during the to tell people what they want to hear, corona crisis also applies to judging De please everyone Founded first wave there was a worrying shor- but to separate fact from fiction and Telegraaf: I respect every opinion, as 1893 tage of tests and protective equipment opinion from news, to cut through long as it is based on facts. such as face masks. Even when there is overwhelming support for the Daily readership print 1,016,700 government, journalists have to point out where Telegraaf report revealed how the Daily readership online A government had forgotten care things are going wrong. Readers of De Telegraaf 1,753,000 homes in its approach to the pandemic. The virus struck these homes mer- sometimes found that difficult. But the role of Podcasts cilessly. It was a painfully good story. Afhameren, Het land van, Kick-off, watchdog is more necessary now than ever. Kwestie van centen, Telegraaf Formule 1, But not all readers appreciated the Uncle Joe: een blik op de VS, De Cultuur hard facts. The sentiment, at least in en Media & In gesprek met Paul Jansen the first months, was that the govern- ment was doing its best and deserved Journalists employed 116 support. De Telegraaf was accused of fearmongering.

Number of subscribers (print + digital) Prime minister Mark 415,268 Even among editors, there was a call Rutte during his first TV speech in the to limit criticism. The word “alarm- spring of 2020. ist” was used. I am still baffled by this PHOTO BY SEM VAN paternalistic attitude. Of course, the DER WAL/ANP

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In 2020, all the Mediahuis titles used images to tell the story of the pandemic. They were intimate and moving pictures. The photographer often had a lump in his throat too

t the moment of Piet Franssen’s death, his family wasn’t present. They didn’t feel the need to be there. And so A the only people around Piet’s bed on 16 April 2020, when the 73-year-old Covid-19 patient’s heart stopped beating, were photographer Kees van de Veen and two nurses. That day was also Van de Veen’s daughter’s seventh birthday.

His photo series about Piet Franssen’s illness, his farewell, his death and his funeral earned Van de Veen the highest award in Dutch photojournalism: the Silver Camera. This is the type of photography that suits him perfectly, Van de Veen said after the award ceremony. “I like to take photos of people as they are going about their daily business. Not of strange things or VIPs, but of genuine emotions. And you don’t get any closer to the emotions than this.”

When Covid-19 reached the Netherlands, Van de Veen didn’t SILVER CAMERA immediately feel the need to go out and take pictures, he says. Kees van de Veen shot a photo series for NRC about Piet Franssen’s illness, farewell, death and funeral, a series that earned him the Silver Camera award

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“I didn’t feel like taking photos of barrier tapes, shopping baskets and 1.5 metre stickers.” But things changed when intensive care units started to become flooded with patients. “That’s where it’s all happening,” he thought. “That’s where history is unfolding. I need to be there.”

Several hospitals refused to grant him access for this assign- ment for NRC, with the exception of the Wilhelmina Hospital in Assen. As long as the communications department were able to sign off on the photos, he was free to shoot anything he wanted. The only caveat was that the patients should not be identifiable. I approached Which was a shame. “I wanted to highlight the personal story, but that’s very difficult when you can’t show people’s faces.” them again with

Ending on a warmer note a lump in my Then he heard that the children of a man whose health was rapidly deteriorating would be visiting the hospital the next throat. Would day. “It would be nice, I thought, to give it all a face,” he recalls. A doctor put him in touch with the family, but the Franssens didn’t they be OK with need to be persuaded. “They immediately said yes. They weren’t focusing on me.” me being in

A few days later, he heard that the doctors would be stop- the room while ping all the man’s treatment. “I approached the family again with a lump in my throat,” Van de Veen says. “I asked them whether I they said their could be there when they said farewell to their father. And they were OK with that.” So he put on protective equipment and tried farewells? to capture their farewells in the most unobtrusive way possible, his glasses often fogging up because of the warm coverall. They were

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He captured everything, right up to the silence after the final heartbeat.

Van de Veen didn’t want his series to end with the photo of Piet Franssen being driven to the mortuary: “That would be so cold.” So he drove to Venlo for the funeral, “to end the story on a warmer note”.

‘Don’t act tough’ “I am so grateful for the trust the family gave me,” he says. “That was the breaking point: that allowed me to capture the impact.” You inspire this trust by treating people respectfully, “not by acting tough or by self-aggrandisement.” Van de Veen’s calm personality no doubt helps.

After the photo series was published in NRC on 25 April, Van de Veen was overwhelmed by the response to his photos. “Including from people I’d never met, who said: ‘I have a family member who is going through the same. Your series gave me the strength to deal with it.’ It’s such a wonderful thing when your photos can do this.”

Van de Veen later visited other ICUs, including two visits to Almelo. But he only photographed the staff there. “When you realise you can’t capture the personal aspect, your photos start to resemble one another. And I didn’t feel like shooting another story like this. It had too much of an impact, including on me.”

Menno Sedee

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he fun of clothing We were delighted with the presents warder Courant and Friesch Dagblad hacks, how to deal with that readers surprised us with during offer Fryslân a rich palette of news growing homesick- lockdown – an expert created sudoku and stories. And where there is added ness among refugees, puzzles for the paper, another wrote value in it, the two work together. modern slavedrivers a series of stories to be read aloud for We previously did so in a joint search (you and I), comments toddlers, and a third began a language for the most beautiful building in the Ton peace missions, how you can sing section. province, and in a podcast made with a more beautiful St Matthew Passion Omrop Fryslân about the longest ever with 10 people and why the mayor of nd we realised a long-held dream: period of sanctuary – 25 years ago. Lopik rides a tandem. All of this, com- A at the weekend, readers could plemented with literature, poetry, film really go back to the paper’s roots. ast year, we searched together for and language, formed the first edition The Bible, of course. Every Satur- L those still living who were sent of Het Goede Leven. day, five experts on the Old and New as children from Amsterdam to hide RIA KRAA Friesch Dagblad is the link in Frisian Testaments elaborated on a series of in , and told their stories of HOOFDREDACTEUR FRIESCH DAGBLAD society that gives meaning to the story With this monthly magazine, Friesch texts. Definitions, context, authors, sadness and homesickness, of damage behind current affairs through its social involvement and personal approach. Dagblad expanded its not inconsid- reliability, interpretation, centu- and rescue. Now we are working – Regional and self-willed with a Christian erable stable of writers last year. The ries-old discussions and controversy: again with the regional broadcaster basis and for a wide target group. magazine and the accompanying web- each week opened a new treasure and with training institutions in the Rooted in Friesland, site make a great stage for the stories trove. Does it have value or scriptural province – on a course for young www.frieschdagblad.nl in the newspaper that are of interest to meaning today? That’s for the reader journalistic talent: each year, three with an eye on Founded those outside Friesland too. to decide. new reporters are immersed in Frisian 1903 language and culture, so that they are For a long time, Friesch Dagblad has With their journalistic variety, Leeu- properly equipped to get to work. Daily readership print been more than an exclusively Re- 32,000 the outside world formed publication – instead it is a dai- Daily readership online ly that attracts readers seeking depth Journalists write about cultural imagination 8,897 in a compact, balanced newspaper without noise and frills. Calm but fresh, in corona times, children from Amsterdam in hiding, Podcasts and not afraid of a long read from time 1000 dagen & De Friese velden and a treasure trove of Biblical texts. Readers join to time. For readers who appreciate in with a sudoku puzzle. Journalists employed that there is so much to choose from 33 in regional journalism in their province.

Number of subscribers (print + digital) 9,366 n 2020 we worked on some major Isubjects: What are the promising alternative forms of agriculture? How do artists, musicians and theatre-mak- The farm shop ers keep imagination alive in corona in Engwierum. times? Can the loss of peat meadows PHOTO BY MARCHJE be prevented? ANDRINGA

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hat I’m most to the same tried-and-trusted but con- It is another source of pride that we proud of, servative presentation for many years. were often successful in bringing our since becom- And it worked. readers the inside track on the three ing Sunday lockdowns – so far – and how their Independent On 3 May, growing tensions between lives were likely to be affected, before editor on the government and the health experts the measures were announced. 29W March 2020, is that in telling the who were acting as advisers were story of how Covid-19 dominated and captured in a front-page photograph- e spoke to everyone from hospi- changed almost every aspect of Irish ic montage with the banner headline Wtal cleaners to grieving families, life, we also gave our readers a clear “Who’s in charge?” from scientific experts to political deci- signal that the newspaper itself was sion-makers, and published the views changing with the times. Two weeks later, we were the first of those advocating radical Covid strat- Irish newspaper to get a photographer egies and those insisting that too high For me, that process began on 5 April. inside some of the nursing homes that a price was being paid in the restriction Covid-19 was, of course, already a huge had been locked down, after a spate of on our movement. story. It had led the paper for the pre- deaths. The pictures made for another vious five weeks as concerns mounted striking front page and a two-page There is no one scoop I would high- about a virus that had already put the spread inside. Three of our reporters light: I’m mostly proud of how a small country into lockdown. But there was also managed to speak to nursing home but highly motivated and hard-working something different about my first residents – the first time their voices team of journalists and photographers ALAN ENGLISH Quality newspaper published on front page as editor – it was dominated had been heard since the lockdown. rose to the challenge of reporting on EDITOR-IN CHIEF SUNDAY INDEPENDENT Sundays only. The Sunday Independent by a single image of a funeral director The media had been talking about these the biggest story of our lifetimes – includes national and international stories, news, current affairs, sport and wearing a mask, looking directly into residents for months – it was impor- week after week, and still going! entertainment. the camera. He was pictured by our tant they got the chance to speak for photographer David Conachy standing themselves about a situation that was The power of www.independent.ie in front of a desolate churchyard, at frightening to many of them. a funeral that nobody was allowed to Founded 1905 attend. The headline, with a nod to the onths later, during the country’s a photograph poet WB Yeats, read “A nation changed Mthird lockdown, we were also the Daily readership print utterly”. first newspaper to get a journalist and Telling stories with images instead of words 687,000 photographer into the ICU and Covid n many respects, that headline was wards of a major Irish hospital at a time is a new form of journalism for the Sunday Daily readership online 795,000 Ia reflection of theSunday Independ- of enormous stress on the medical Independent. It turned out to be a great way to ent’s editorial content for the rest of staff. Again, the results dominated Journalists employed 2020 – and now into 2021. Many of the the front page and inside pages. We show the massive changes in society. 23 things we took for granted were taken were contacted subsequently by key away from us and our journalists and personnel from the hospital who said photographers, Sunday after Sunday, the coverage was important in raising documented that massive change. public awareness of just how bad things were in the country’s acute hospitals, Often we used photography – in due to people not respecting the rules a bold way on the front page and in of lockdown. extensive, wide-ranging Covid-19 sections inside the paper – to really tell Any self-respecting Sunday newspa- the story. It was a visual approach that per sees it as its mission to produce marked a significant departure for the agenda-setting journalism for the Sunday Independent, which had stuck coming week, to get ahead of the story. Front page Sunday Independent (5 April).

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n March, prime minister Mark And the rest was made up of the sto- fill in. We wrote about corona puppies Rutte announced lockdown ries of normal people. Children’s draw- and Happy Stones, and made the Coro- (later: the first lockdown) and we ings for Grandma and Grandad. Jokes, napoly game. thought: we need to do some- games and the occasional crazy quiz. thing as a paper. Everyone was We looked for and invented stories SANDER WARMERDAM Leeuwarder Courant has been the at home, lonely and alone, but his craziness was expanded in the and perspectives on the news to cheer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LEEUWARDER COURANT newspaper of and for all of Friesland we were all, as readers, together at autumn of 2020, in the successor people up, with the message: we may since 1752, with ever-reliable and I T independent news. It’s the heartbeat home. That became the name of our to Samen Thuis, which we called Golf be at home, but we’re not alone. And of Friesland with a finger on the pulse back-page section, to connect readers, 2.0. In the second lockdown, we fo- there is always something to smile of current events. Named after its let them communicate with each other cused less on readers’ personal stories about. A smile against capital but the newspaper of the entire and keep them occupied. and more on humour and interactive province, the oldest in the country. games. We gave tips for uninitiated A project that we thought would last www.lc.nl From this idea, the Samen Thuis page homeschoolers (what is the personal just a few weeks has been going on for loneliness was launched in the spring of 2020. pronoun again, and how do you do long months. Great fun – but we hope it will Founded Every day we published readers’ letters, division?) and gave people cartoons to come to an end in 2021. Editors Asing Walthaus and Kirsten van Santen 1752 drawings and cartoons, in which they expressed their feelings about the explain how the Samen Thuis section kept Daily readership print 172,500 strange turn their lives had taken. readers connected with each other during corona. No hard news, but an impression, an Daily readership online image. Children’s drawings, games – and how does long 86,000

division work again? Podcast e worked with an art institution Radio Koko Wthat delivered great pages for children two or three times a week, and Journalists employed we asked our readers to contribute. We 58 published poets’ cries from the heart, Number of subscribers (print + digital) the diary of a writer in a care home, Jettien van der Bij 66,245 and messages from a visual artist who talks about her was stuck in Italy. We made a photo home office on the Golf 2.0 page. strip of the life of a ferry boat captain, a lifeguard, a pastor and a politician PHOTO BY HOGE NOORDEN/ Zooming at home. JACOB VAN ESSEN

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 32 33 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 HET NIEUWSBLAD

ooking back on journalism app and website. But we also fulfilled summer series, which had to be made in 2020 is to remember another role. The virus shut down just much closer to home than usual but that there was a small about everything that makes life fun, which were still there. And in the way part of the year when at least for a while. And our readers we worked. We missed each other and we weren’t talking about looked to us to fill that gap. With puz- the shared creative process, but we still coronavirus. In January, zles and relaxation. With stories that managed to make a newspaper, app LHet Nieuwsblad brought out a major made them think of something else. Of and website every day. report into care homes, a dossier we’d sport, for example, always an important spent six months working on. We ex- part of our newspaper. But how do you e are proud too that we con- posed several problems. And, as usual, report on sport when there’s no sport W tinued to work in depth, that we provided an important service, being played, when stadiums are empty we didn’t have to put the ongoing with an unprecedented amount of data and races are cancelled? We quickly change processes on hold. Local news gathered on nursing homes in Flanders. decided that we would continue to and sport switched to a digital first LIESBETH VAN IMPE Het Nieuwsblad is an accessible, The minister responsible dismissed produce sports pages, with stories, operation during lockdown, which was EDITOR-IN-CHIEF HET NIEUWSBLAD broad-based newspaper. It follows these problems as exaggeration. Barely retro pieces, the unexpected success of a real feat. We prepared a Slimmer current affairs from near and far and dares to take a stand. Het Nieuwsblad two months later, in the middle of the the Container Cup. Everything to keep Leven podcast. We designed a new is a reliable source of information and a corona crisis, he had to explain why serving our sports fans. magazine. None of this is easy when guide to life in today’s world. everything that could go wrong in a you can’t sit together, brainstorm Sports pages care home was going wrong. We are orona forced us to be creative in together, gather round the drawing www.nieuwsblad.be working on an update to the report Call areas. In our reporting, where board together. But we still did it. And when there’s Founded now, one year and one pandemic later. a single subject continued to dominate that ensures we are all set for a flying 1929 for so long. In our storytelling, with our start after corona. he combination of hard facts, Daily readership print extensive service and deep local 1,089,150 T no sport? Readers roots is how we want to distinguish Daily readership online ourselves at Het Nieuwsblad. That 987,387 was also our approach during the were pleased corona crisis. We developed a Corona Podcasts Compass, in which we converted all Slimmer Leven, De Stemmen van Assisen, A revealing report on care homes was dismissed as Sjotcast, De Koers is van ons the many regulations (which frequently ‘exaggerated’ by the minister at the start of 2020. & Beestenklap changed) into a simple questionnaire, against which people could check their The pandemic proved otherwise. Readers were happy Journalists employed own behaviour. We were a guide in the 145 with this sort of investigation – and with our puzzles. crisis that was clearly appreciated by Number of subscribers (print + digital) our readers. We’ve never before seen 199,961 such growth. Retirement home in Grimbergen during the pandemic. The numbers prove it: constantly seeking reliable information about the PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN virus, readers flocked to our paper, STEVENIERS

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 34 35 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 BELFAST TELEGRAPH

020 was to be a year to continue. In Northern Ireland, the quent apology to her. An official inquiry of celebration at the management of care homes will be top found a risk assessment had not been Belfast Telegraph as we of that list. carried out prior to the Belfast Trust celebrated our 150th placing her at the home, despite the birthday on 1 September Our health correspondent, Lisa fact she had diabetes and “had come – instead, like all other Smyth, uncovered various issues facing out of retirement to assist with the 2publishers, we’ll remember 2020 as the these particularly vulnerable members Covid-19 response”. Ms McAfee spent year we left the office and published of society, all 16,000 of them. As the 26 days in intensive care, during which from everywhere we could find a wifi pandemic took hold, we ran a series time her family was told she was not signal. of stories on the rising death toll at expected to survive. these homes. There was huge shock EOIN BRANNIGAN Belfast Telegraph is published six days Despite the daily difficulties and at our reports, and anger and sadness hankfully, she did, and like many EDITOR-IN-CHIEF BELFAST TELEGRAPH a week and distributed in Northern unprecedented hurdles, we produced that the weakest in the community had other survivors and victims’ fami- Ireland. Its sister newspaper, Sunday T Life, is published weekly. It includes some great journalism from our bed- been left so exposed to the threat of lies, she’ll have plenty to tell any future regional, national and international rooms, kitchen tables and anywhere we the virus. inquiry. The Belfast Telegraph will make stories, news, current affairs, sport needed to. Apart from the virus, there sure their voices are heard. Sometimes and entertainment. were some big stories in Northern ne of the fundamental questions Ireland in 2020, stories that generated still to be answered is why care www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk O journalism can huge interest and engagement with our homes were forced to admit residents Founded readers. We led the way in coverage of who had already picked up Covid-19 in 1870 the Bobby Storey funeral, and we had hospital, leading to outbreaks in those a real scoop over a Sinn Féin grants homes. We also consistently published really make Daily readership print 151,400 scandal – but even these stories would stories pressing for more and more not have happened had it not been testing to be put in place in care homes Daily readership online for the arrival of coronavirus early last and highlighting the fact that a knock- a difference 211,000 year. on effect of the outbreaks was the pressure put on staff, which left many Podcast When the pandemic ends, a lot of questions Ulster Rugby And it’s back to the first wave of the of them self-isolating. will be asked about the mismanagement virus we need to go to find our most Journalists employed effective journalism of 2020. One of these staff members was Co- of care homes. The Belfast Telegraph gives 66 lette McAfee, who selflessly came out hen the pandemic ends, there of retirement to help her overworked a voice to victims and survivors. Number of subscribers (print + digital) 7,134 Wwill be a reckoning in most former colleagues in the NHS. The countries. Questions will be asked 64-year-old was placed in a Runwood about how certain decisions were Homes centre, even though she was taken, why PPE took so long to arrive, at serious risk of harm from the virus.

why restrictions were lifted at certain There was an investigation as a result Belfast Telegraph (4 July) about the volunteer times, why foreign travel was allowed of our reporting her story and a subse- who got coronavirus.

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In its essence, our journalism has not changed. Only the manner in which we tell our stories

sychologist Els Slurink Their articles appeared in print and The programme clearly fulfilled a was just 33. On the first online, and a special three-part pod- need. The viewing figures were good day of spring in 1997, she cast was also made based on the rese- and it was watched again on demand was murdered in her arch. This is the second podcast about remarkably often. home in Groningen. Stab- a cold case, following the famous se- bed. The perpetrator has ries on the Kofferbakmoord. It turned n the meantime, the format has Pnever been found. out to be an excellent way of reaching Iexpanded to become DVHN/LC Live new people. In het hart geraakt was and the broadcasts no longer focus The editorial team at Dagblad van het listened to by a large audience, with only on coronavirus and the conse- ERIK WIJNHOLDS Dagblad van het Noorden knows what’s Noorden has since created a modest the number of downloads approaching quences of the pandemic. Every Tues- EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAGBLAD VAN HET NOORDEN happening in the region and what’s tradition, in which a team of reporters 215,000. day to Friday at 12.15, a presenter and important to the people who live there. The newspaper presents this in investigates a cold case. At the end of an expert discuss questions from the an independent and reliable manner. 2019, Marijke Brouwer, Willem Dekker In its essence, our journalism has not public on a current topic. DVHN and Dagblad van het Noorden is and Jeroen Kelderman began to look at changed, only the manner in which LC each prepare half of the broadcast Pure investigative the link between northerners and Els Slurink’s case. The files were reope- we tell our stories and thereby reach a and it’s shown on the channels of both what’s relevant to them regionally. ned one more time in a final attempt to new audience. titles. And on Mondays? Then the sha- www.dvhn.nl shed some light on her murder. red football programme Het Ballenhok journalism also t the end of 2020, it was hard to is shown at the same time. Founded All the files were assessed and the Abelieve we had known so little works as a podcast 1888 reporters spoke to family, friends, about the coronavirus at the begin- Daily readership print acquaintances, colleagues and those ning of the year. When the virus began 278,500 who had been involved in the police in- to take hold in Europe and later the With a popular podcast about an unsolved vestigation. They also spoke to people Netherlands in February and March, Daily readership online who had come under suspicion. It was there was lots that remained unclear. murder and an almost daily broadcast 152,000 investigative journalism in its purest That’s why the editorial team of Dag- about the news, Dagblad van het Noorden Podcasts form. It led to the series In het hart blad van het Noorden decided to bring is reaching a new audience. De Kofferbakmoord, In het hart geraakt, geraakt: six powerful reports including in virologist Coretta van Leer from Hongerige Wolf, Radio Milko & Radio a meticulous reconstruction of Els’s UMCG for a live broadcast on DVHN. Meerdijk final 24 hours. nl and Facebook. Health reporter

Journalists employed Arend van Wijngaarden presented the 87 he reporters exposed some serious show. Before and during the broadcast, Tquestions about the police ope- viewers could ask questions directly. Number of subscribers (print + digital) ration. It also became apparent that The editorial team was able to put the 90,717 a suspect had never submitted DNA, programme together quickly because

which would have been a logical course the technical production was done by Dagblad van het Noorden’s popular podcast of action. its own NDC Productiehuis. about an unsolved murder case.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 38 39 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 TITLES

What’s the news of the moment? Every news organisation thinks differently about this. Different choices, different perspectives: that’s what makes a pluriform press so important. What do we tell the reader?

A selection of front pages from various titles within Mediahuis. Published the same weekend of June 6 and 7, but all different. For many news organisations, their website’s homepage has become a continuous front page. But at weekends in particular, the front page of the printed newspaper is still a fantastic showcase.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 40 41 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 DE LIMBURGER

ooking back on a year that pen was buried in Heibloem. s I said: this case got under my marked the greatest crisis I still remember the service on the Askin. On the eve of the trial of the since the Second World pitch of the local football club. After man involved in the disappearance War requires reflection. all these years, the image of the coffin and the death of Nicky Verstappen, we Just as it was for every- with the Ajax flag still comes back to me decided to make an eight-part podcast one, 2020 was one of the regularly. Particularly when there are series and eventually to write a book. Lmost bizarre years I have ever experi- important developments in the case. Coronavirus or not, we can do this, enced. From one day to the next, I had that was the firm belief of the reporters to live my life in a way I hadn’t chosen. phone call from the then chief who worked on it. The case of Nicky Apublic prosecutor Roger Bos is still Verstappen has stirred emotions in Living life in a way you hadn’t chosen clear in my memory, asking if he could Limburg for two decades. It was our BJORN OOSTRA De Limburger: independent, reliable – this sentence came to me when I come and talk about the DNA research duty to invest our energy and time in EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DE LIMBURGER and inspired journalism for Limburg was thinking about which work from that was being prepared in absolute presenting the facts properly. and its citizens, for 175 years. Corona Year 2020 I was most proud of. secrecy. Though this was the last hope, www.delimburger.nl For me, it was undeniably our work on Bos was convinced the perpetrator t fills me with pride that in such the case of Nicky Verstappen. Nicky, would be caught. When Jos Brech was Ia strange year, our editorial team A case that got Founded a shy 11-year-old boy who went away named as a suspect during a press was able to carry out this duty with 1846 to summer camp, only to be buried conference, the image of that coffin high-quality reports online and in the under the skin Daily readership print a week later with an Ajax flag draped with its Ajax flag appeared in my head paper – as well as a popular podcast 302,600 over his coffin in Heibloem, a small vil- once again. series and a very readable book. lage in the centre of Limburg. Vanish- An 11-year-old boy was found dead in a Limburg Daily readership online ing from the tent where he lay sleeping 157,000 wood in 1998. Twenty-two years later, the perpetrator with friends, a day later he was found Podcasts alone and lifeless in a spruce forest. was convicted. And De Limburger’s editorial team Luister De Limburger, Het verhaal Since that dramatic day in August 1998, van Nicky Verstappen, Project 46, Nicky’s parents and sister no longer live were heavily involved. De Limburger Voetbalpodcast the life they would have chosen. Since & De Limburger Brandstof then, their life has become all about Journalists employed processing and seeking answers. Why? 124 Why Nicky?

Number of subscribers (print + digital) 111,413 his case from 1998 got under my Tskin. Even if you don’t have children who have been away to camp or on a Emotions among school trip, a case like this grabs you by the family of Nicky Verstappen after the throat. As a reporter with De Lim- the judge’s verdict. burger, I was working the weekend shift PHOTO BY ROBIN on 12 August 1998 when Nicky Verstap- UTRECHT

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 42 43 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 LUXEMBURGER WORT

ike many other publica- bite-sized, understandable form for the The editorial team’s view was that the tions, the Luxemburger reader. Our video journalists make the storytelling reports should provide a Wort has reported on stories tangible with moving images counterweight to the official repor- the overwhelming events and animations. ting. “Our approach is aimed at setting since March 2020: im- our own journalistic language against promptu press confe- n April, the Luxemburger Wort the over-formatted messages by the Lrences, heated parliamentary debates, Ipublished a first video report from government,” says video journalist the lockdown, the infection rates, the the Covid-19 frontline in the intensive Christophe Olinger. A stylistic feature number of new cases and number of care unit of the Centre Hospitalier de of our video interviews is that the focus deaths. We recorded the most impor- Luxembourg, one of the larger hos- is on the people we are observing. The tant news as it happened in the live pitals in the capital. “The doctors and camera does not move, there are no ticker and used drones to illustrate the nurses trusted me, I could work freely,” interview questions and as such the empty cities and streets during lock- video journalist Sibila Lind says about interviewees’ testimonies can have down. Our main concern was to show the recordings that were as complex their full effect. how Covid-19 has changed people’s as they were poignant. “For me, as a lives. But when words are unable to journalist, the question arises: how can e have also tried to incorporate describe reality, it is sometimes better I paint a picture of this reality without Wreaders and their daily lives in ROLAND ARENS The Luxemburger Wort, market leader to let people and images speak for violating the dignity of the often very quarantine into our digital coverage. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUXEMBURGER WORT in Luxembourg, is the most important themselves. The Luxemburger Wort has sick people?” As early as March, we showed video quality newspaper for local, national and international news. In addition been experimenting for a while with interviews with people infected with to the traditional daily newspaper multimedia narrative formats, called Another video report, called “No bre- Covid-19, we published a collection of sections, Luxemburger Wort also storytelling, which we also regularly ather at U33”, the hospital’s Covid-19 private photographs and drawings of When words publishes dossiers, in-depth analyses use in our coverage of the pandemic. ward, was produced with very short grandchildren for grandparents they and exclusive news. texts and impressive black-and-white were not allowed to visit, and students www.wort.lu These are carefully selected stories, photographs and video clips. The pho- wrote their own texts about life with aren’t enough as well as photos, graphics, original tos were deliberately taken in portrait Covid-19. The young people all agreed Founded sounds, videos and other interac- format, to ensure the story could be on one thing: “We are so fed up with Journalists from the Luxemburger Wort are using 1848 tive elements that, depending on the optimally watched on mobile phones. this virus!” subject, are combined in a variety multimedia reporting to document life in quarantine Daily readership print 136,800 Luxembourg residents of compositions. Over the past few and the daily struggle against the disease. months, a whole series of multimedia Daily readership online reports came into being, documenting 98,100 Luxembourg residents life with Covid-19 and the fight against Journalists employed the pandemic. 60 torytelling requires teamwork in Number of subscribers (print + digital) every area of the virtual newsroom. 49,536 S Working with the journalists from the specialist departments, the web editors are responsible for the online presen- tation of their research. Our data jour- Video report of the Covid frontline nalists dig through massive amounts of at the Centre Hospitalier de data, filter it to find the most valuable Luxembourg’s information and translate it into a intensive care unit.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 44 45 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 IRISH INDEPENDENT & INDEPENDENT.IE

he year 2020 will always The first of these was when theIrish his resulted in wider awareness of be known as the year of Independent revealed that the new Tsafety concerns about the use of Covid-19, a once-in-a agriculture minister, Barry Cowen, had learner permits and, of course, about century pandemic that been caught drink-driving and had lost driving while under the influence of would reshape our lives, his licence for a time in the past but alcohol. shatter our societies had never made this public. Tand economies and kill our loved ones. As further details about the police Irish Independent journalists have It took painstaking investigative work report emerged, Mr Cowen claimed the worked with great determination and by Ireland editor Fionnán Sheahan official record of the incident might not diligence to cover the impact of the vi- to confirm the information he had be fully correct, raising the prospect of rus over so many minutes, hours, days obtained and put it to the minister, a sitting minister suggesting a police and months that it goes without saying giving him an opportunity to explain file on an incident would need to be that it was our most important story of the circumstances. amended. the year. owever, Mr Cowen failed to give The Taoiseach was unhappy with CORMAC BOURKE The quality Irish Independent, published That, though, is a given for all journal- Hdetailed answers to questions the answers he was getting about the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF IRISH INDEPENDENT & INDEPENDENT.IE Monday to Saturday, is known for its ists, all around the world. about the incident. Independent.ie incident and – when Mr Cowen would authoritative and reliable journalism: national and international stories, news, broke the story at 20.40 on 3 July, less not resign – he sacked him. current affairs, sport and entertainment. So what can we say about what we than a week after the new government did that was important and engaging – was formed. We revealed Mr Cowen He had been a minister for just 17 The other once-in- www.independent.ie but also unique? had also been on a learner permit at days. the time, due to another “quirk” of the Founded 1905 One story about another once- Irish system. a-century event in-a-century event underlines the Daily readership print importance of political accountability, On 4 July, we revealed that Taoise- and the minister 507,000 particularly in the context of a wider ach Micheál Martin, Mr Cowen’s party Daily readership online societal issue. leader, hadn’t been made aware of the 795,000 incident when he appointed Mr Cowen reland’s political landscape was al- to the Cabinet. On 7 July, we revealed for 17 days Podcasts Itered by a general election in Febru- that Mr Cowen had also been caught The Left Wing, The Throw-In, Going to ary 2020, which put the largest parties speeding during his time on a learner College, The Big Tech, The Floating Voter, Amid the pandemic, a historic government coalition Real Health & Women in Tech historically – Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael permit. was formed in Ireland. Investigative journalism from – into government together for the first Journalists employed time in the 100 years since they split in hat allowed further investigation the Irish Independent led to one of the ministers 140 (including The Herald) a dispute about the Anglo-Irish Treaty Tof just how the “learner” system that brought about the Irish Free State. was working – and led to us revealing leaving office after just 17 days Number of subscribers (print + digital) 31,206 on 8 July that 37,000 drivers in Ireland The early days of the new govern- were on their fourth or more learner ment (which also includes the Green permit and a subsequent claim from Party) were always going to be difficult the Road Safety Authority that those

and it was rocked by a number of polit- drivers were “gaming” or manipulating Irish Independent (4 July) on a new minister’s ical controversies. the system. drinking and driving behaviour.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 46 47 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 GAZET VAN ANTWERPEN

Our readers need perspective, as do we. And so we have great plans for 2021

n mid-March 2020 we were werpen into Gazet van de Antwerpse of the Durvers, to show them their about to launch a great campaign haven. Research had shown that there support. to promote our weekend edition. was interest in the port among our Everything was ready: banners, readers and among Antwerp residents e did all this in the middle of adverts, TV and radio spots… The in general. We planned to go to the Wa pandemic, with a handful of best reports were in the pipeline docks, tow containers, travel with the people in the newsroom and the rest Ito treat our readers and entice new ships… Well, we did it all. By June that of our colleagues at home. Separat- readers, and our supplement Doen! had was possible. Then we published our ed from each other, but connected a new look. And then came coronavi- great series The Container. We showed through big ambitions and a willing- KRIS VANMARSENILLE Gazet van Antwerpen is the largest rus. Our beautiful culture supplement and told readers everything they could ness to work hard. Meanwhile, we EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GAZET VAN ANTWERPEN newspaper in the largest city in was going to look very different and want to know about containers at the closely followed the coronavirus and Flanders, Antwerp. It is the most important source of information for our city magazine CittA had to be port. In the summer, we presented a the misery it brought to the region. and about the city and the wider region. updated quickly. The promo campaign port cycle tour (cycling is permitted in And we tried not to overlook the good In addition, the newspaper reports was shelved. But all our other plans all circumstances) and in September news, because, just like us, our readers The weekly port on world news with a sharp eye. went ahead. Here and there, corona we started our weekly port supplement needed perspective. even gave us a hand. on Mondays. Just as we had planned. www.gva.be supplement? And just as we had hoped, it was a suc- We have great plans for 2021. And Founded For example, in the spring, our crime cess. Each week we found a business, whatever happens, we’ll carry them 1891 reporters Sam and Joris were able to a problem, a challenge or a person out. You can count on that. work hard on the Gazet van Antwerpen’s to cover in our port section. And the We just did it Daily readership print 455,150 very first podcast. Crime had slowed circulation followed. right down and the courts were running Having time to make a crime podcast because Daily readership online at low speed. Sam and Joris had time to lso on our wish-list for 2020: Gazet 238,895 crime was at a standstill. Making a series about work in the studio. The six episodes of Avan Antwerpen wanted to encour- Omroep Onderwereld – the most excit- age entrepreneurship in the region. Podcasts entrepreneurs who dare to start a business right now. Omroep Onderwereld & GVA Podcast ing crime stories from Antwerp and the Small businesses bring the region to Journalistic dreaming happens in corona times too. surrounding area – were ready at the life and keep municipalities and cities Journalists employed start of July. We launched them with moving. We postponed the plan slight- 60 lots of fanfare and they were immedi- ly. Entrepreneurship and coronavirus,

Number of subscribers (print + digital) ately listened to by thousands of people. perhaps not the best relationship. Until 69,888 Not bad for a newbie podcast. The we hit on the idea of De Durvers: who smallest editorial team within Mediahu- would dare to start a business in these is Belgium is incredibly proud of this. hard times? We found 20 brave people in the Kempen and Mechelen areas.

We had already been working for Twenty great stories. And no fewer The makers of the podcast Omroep Onderwereld, months on turning Gazet van Ant- than 6,000 people who voted for one about crime in Antwerp and its surroundings.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 48 49 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 INM REGIONALS

he impact of coronavi- We launched our ePapers and Local to visit local schools and sports camps. rus on our newspapers Irish News app with great fanfare and The resulting images of smiling youth- and our local com- an aggressive marketing campaign that ful faces injected life and colour into munities was sharp included front-page wraps, highlight- the pages of our local papers. and instant as spring ing convenience and value. The formula dawned last year. St has been a success – from zero to eanwhile, Ireland’s Own magazine TPatrick’s Day, Ireland’s annual holiday 1,500 in-contract subscribers in nine Mmaintained its position as the traditionally marked with parades in months. flagship of the regionals as circulation towns and villages all over the country, increased, the traditional publication was cancelled as the country headed Behind the figures, of course, are bringing the comfort of the familiar in into an unprecedented lockdown. the human stories of not only readers uncertain times. in lockdown but journalists as well. As plans unravelled, editors in our 12 They have had to adjust very quickly to Coronavirus, Covid-19, pandemic, regional newspapers faced the task of a new reality of personal time man- PPE, frontline workers, community filling pages reserved for images and agement and balancing life and work, spread, self-isolation, social distancing, stories of celebration and pageantry. It all under the shadow of a pandemic. cluster, super-spreader, flattening the JIM HAYES INM’s portfolio of newspapers includes was a challenge they would face time Among the results: a deeper under- curve… 2020 saw a new vocabulary as EDITOR-IN-CHIEF INM REGIONALS 12 weekly regional newspaper titles, and again in subsequent months. standing of the plight of others and a our journalists grappled with a new namely , The Corkman, the Drogheda Independent, The Argus, greater prevalence of long-form inter- reality. the Bray People, the Wicklow People, Through March and April we mined views and analysis. the Wexford People, Gorey Guardian, story and picture archives for essential The changes were profound and far- The comfort of Enniscorthy Guardian, the New Ross “human interest” as current events he lack of fixtures and regular reaching. Standard, the Fingal Independent and dried up and Covid-19 dominated the events forced editors and jour- the Sligo Champion. These newspapers T family in a new publish local and regional news and news. But we knew it would not be nalists to don their thinking caps and sport. enough. Many of our readers were come up with creative ways to fill reluctant to make that weekly trip to pages and hold reader interest. We Daily readership print the newsagents and circulations were launched a number of editorial cam- 314,900 digital way under pressure as a result. paigns that reached into the heart of Journalists employed local communities, including the We’re How to serve readers if they can’t make the 45 ur editors and journalists looked Here For You initiative, which turned weekly trip to the newsagents? Become digital Obeyond print to deliver up-to-the- the spotlight on frontline heroes and minute local news. In the absence of community volunteers; We Miss You, overnight, be creative and reach into the breaking news feeds on our websites, where young readers were encouraged hearts of the community. ‘We’re here for you.’ we stepped up activity on social media. to submit pictures and messages for Daily Covid-19 news updates on Face- grandparents who they could not visit; book have become a vital component and Home In Our Hearts, where read- of our local news services and have ers living abroad used the pages of the cemented our reputation as the most newspapers to send messages to loved reliable and trustworthy source for that ones at home. information in our markets. Between the lockdowns there was

As the pandemic broke, we recog- some semblance of normality and our Front page Wicklow People (1 April) showing nised the value of digital editions. photographers took every opportunity the We’re Here For You campaign.

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 50 51 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 THE HERALD

For many of our readers, the pandemic has been a very lonely and isolating experience

he past 12 months have kindness to those who helped out, in down in October, the national mood presented a unique set whatever small way, during the crisis. hit a new low. In an effort to encourage of problems, both for It might have been someone working readers to reach out and keep in touch how we produce our on the frontline, or simply picking with someone they loved, The Herald journalism and how we up shopping or delivering essential launched a series of unique postcards connect with our au- medication. to collect each day. These featured Tdience. Our duty is not only to inform photos of days gone by and were dis- our readers, but also to reflect the t led to a flood of uplifting, funny and tributed free with the newspaper. needs and changed circumstances we Ioften quite emotional notes of thanks ALAN STEENSON The Herald is a tabloid published all find ourselves in. and even poems to sons, daughters, hey could also be posted for free to EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE HERALD throughout Ireland from Monday to neighbours, shopkeepers, teachers, any nursing home or care facility Saturday, but is most popular in Dublin. T Its content includes news, sport and From early March, we saw unprec- postmen and women and healthcare across the country, allowing people to entertainment. edented demand for Covid coverage workers. These were then collated and connect with elderly or more vulnera- on our online platforms. However, as published once a week, showcasing the ble members of the community. They Postcards and www.herald.ie the weeks of lockdown went on, we solidarity among communities across proved very popular and many readers got feedback from an equal number Dublin and beyond. got in touch to say they were sending Founded 1891 of readers who were suffering Covid them to family and friends in Europe, poems as a cure fatigue and wanted more positive and As Ireland entered a second lock- America and beyond. Daily readership print uplifting content. 168,000 in Covid times We also have a significant cohort of older readers, many of whom are When the mood in the country was at its loyal print subscribers, for whom the lowest, The Herald called out to readers to pandemic has been a very lonely and isolating experience. support each other with messages and free postcards. A recipe against loneliness. wo of The Herald’s most successful T initiatives of 2020 were introduced to try and solve these problems and connect with our audience, how they were living and what they were experi-

encing through these difficult times. Campaign by The Herald to thank carers and In May, we launched Herald Every- volunteers. day Heroes, calling on our readers PHOTO BY BRIAN to send in messages of thanks and LAWLESS

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 52 53 MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020 Editing & coordination Marcella Breedeveld, An Steylemans Final editing Sally Tipper Graphic design Yannick Mortier (www.yannickmortier.com) Art direction Anne-Marije Vendeville www.mediahuis.be 2021

MEDIAHUIS — JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT — 2020

From top to bottom, left to right: deserted city of Brussels (Belgium, photo by Kristof Vadino); demonstrators during the Black Lives Matter protest on the Malieveld in The Hague (the Netherlands, photo by David van Dam); funeral of a Covid-19 victim at Mount Jerome, Dublin (Ireland, photo by David Conachy); police patrol on a deserted Ha’penny Bridge in Dublin (Ireland, photo by Gerry Mooney); tranquillity on Dam Square in Amsterdam (the Netherlands, photo by Olivier Middendorp); an empty Place Guillaume II in the centre of Luxembourg City (Luxembourg, photo by Guy Jallay); no sitting down in Schaerbeek (Belgium, photo by Kristof Vadino).

MEDIAHUIS JOURNALISTIC ANNUAL REPORT 2020