The VRT is among the top European public media companies when it comes to quality versus cost price. This is evident from figures from the European Broadcast Union (EBU). The VRT costs Flemish people 42.6 euros per year. That is about a third less than in many other Western European countries. The average cost is 66 euros per inhabitant.
Through our tax money, the VRT delivers top-level content year after year for almost 43 euros per Flemish person. Programs and public actions that make a difference, that stimulate politics, stimulate social debate and initiate change. Just think about Godforsaken, The process that no one wanted, Down the Road, At homebut also, for example, De Warmste Week and last Friday the Electoral Festival in the Flemish Parliament, which brought young people and politicians closer together.
A strong VRT. We need it. The VRT sets the tone, encourages other media companies, and brings the content that needs to be presented to all screens where Flemish people are present. The VRT does this with flying colors. Year after year, the Flemish media regulator produces an excellent report for the VRT. So much high-quality and independent news, explanation and entertainment for an excellent price/quality. That is what the VRT offers to Flanders.
This can only benefit our democracy. Thanks to education and quality and independent media, citizens are informed and trained to engage in public debate, to speak out with respect and willingness to listen to each other, things that are sometimes hard to find on American or Chinese platforms such as Facebook, X and TikTok . High-quality media, including a strong public broadcaster, create a barrier against polarization and extremism.
Democracy under pressure
Countries with a strong public broadcaster have a globally stronger media landscape and a stronger democracy. This is evident from numerous studies. Unfortunately, our democracy is under pressure. It is enough to look at Russia, but also within the EU at Poland, Hungary and Italy to see how the dismantling of an independent, strong public broadcaster provides a free pass for the rise of extremes.
That is why the fight for a strong and independent public broadcaster, also in Flanders, for the VRT, is so extremely important. However, what has happened in recent weeks within the VRT, the house of trust, is extremely damaging and I have never seen it happen before.
The summary is unprecedented: the evil attempts of the CEO and content director to prevent the broadcast of The process that no one wanted to stop it, to want to delete it from the series, to want to offer the perpetrator (Bart De Pauw) a forum without involving the victims, which once again put the victims against the wall. But also trying to delete Godforsaken and intervening in other programs and items such as the MIAs on the one hand, and on the other hand, creating programs according to the wishes and needs of cabinets. The loud signals from the workplace about a culture of fear within various sections of the VRT, the strikingly large number of people who leave after fighting, on top of the wave of dismissals that has not yet been digested. To such an extent that the social inspection now even decided to start an investigation. That is unprecedented.
What is happening now at the top of the VRT is more than errors of judgment. These are mistakes with serious consequences. For the victims of De Pauw. For the victims of transgressive behavior in the media and all other sectors. For the backlash within our society about how we deal with transgressive behavior. For the VRT staff who want to continue working for the VRT with heart and soul, convinced of the public mission. For the program makers in our flourishing production sector who wonder whether they will ever be able to make ‘difficult’ programs again, if even the VRT no longer wants them.
High time that the Minister of Media conducts an audit to investigate where things are going wrong internally and then takes the necessary action to restore peace and confidence within the VRT, to make it our house of trust again. For the staff who work hard every day, for the Flemish people who are entitled to the best programs, for our society and democracy.
