“Journalism that does not seek change is not journalism”, says Dutch journalist Fréderike Geerdink in her new book. In it, she explores what we expect from journalism in times of social and political turbulence. Times that, in her view, demand courageous journalism that dares to take a stand. Be it the war in Gaza, the Dutch election campaign or local issues closer to home.
As one of the cornerstones of democracy, journalism is indispensable to our society. But what kind of journalism are we really talking about? With over 30 years of experience in this field, Fréderike Geerdink's perspective on the purpose of journalism, and the role of journalists and media, has shifted drastically. In particular, her years in Turkey and the Kurdistan region and her provocative publications that challenged the establishment, made her aware of power and powerlessness on a deeper level. From a distance, she also began to notice how, also in The Netherlands, journalists are far less neutral than many assume. Since most journalists belong to the dominant group in society, their reporting often leans toward the powerful, at the expense of the public interest. Rather than serving those in power, Geerdink argues, journalists should advocate for social change.
Frederike Geerdink takes a critical look at journalistic principles such as truth-telling and objectivity. She challenges the idea that journalism can, or should, be impartial, and questions practices like “bothsidesism” in debates where the facts are clear, such as the climate crisis. She highlights the impact of the choice of words regarding sensitive topics, such as the use of the word “genocide”, and critiques the way politicians are featured on news and talk shows.
Speaker
Fréderike Geerdink is an independent journalist and author who specializes in power dynamics. From 2006 to 2020, she worked as a correspondent in Turkey and Kurdistan. Her thought-provoking manifesto Alle journalistiek is activisme (All Journalism is Activism) was published in June of this year.
World Press Photo Exhibition on campus 2-24 September
Amid a fast-changing and threatened media landscape, World Press Photo champions press freedom by promoting independent photojournalism and documentary photography. The annual exhibition showcases compelling stories, creating space for reflection in urgent times. This September, the World Press Photo Exhibition returns to TU/e from 2 until 24 September, with the winning images from the 68th annual World Press Photo Contest. You can visit this important exhibition for free in Atlas building, TU/e Campus.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black "order" button).
SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.