Kingdom journalists unite for climate and media cooperation

DEVENTER — Journalists from Aruba and other parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands participated in the second Dutch Journalism Festival, held in Deventer on September 18 and 19. More than 1,000 journalists, media professionals and other participants attended nearly 150 panels, lectures and workshops.

At the invitation of the Dutch Fund for Special Journalistic Projects, a substantial delegation from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom attended, creating more space for Caribbean perspectives within the profession.

The fund organized sessions on mental health and peer support in journalism and on reporting the climate crisis from Bonaire to Maastricht. The latter examined how journalists cover a crisis whose effects are not experienced in the same way throughout the Kingdom.

Participants included Rajesh Chintaman from The Daily Herald in Sint Maarten, Radinka Ustasia from Bonaire, Oriana Wouters from Aruba, Maarten van Gestel from Trouw and Emma van Bergeijk from nu.nl. Journalist and author Milouska Meulens moderated the discussion.

According to Caribbean journalism expert Wensly Francisco, climate change requires a shared response from the entire Kingdom, although its consequences differ considerably between the islands and the European Netherlands. Journalists therefore have a responsibility to report on the issue and explain it from their respective realities.

The fund has increased its support for journalism in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom over the past two years. In addition to financing in-depth projects, it promotes knowledge-sharing and cooperation. The Papiamento-language newspaper Extra Curaçao also hosted a session on journalistic collaboration within the Kingdom.

After the climate session, the Bonaire radio programme Op de Klippen recorded a special edition from Deventer. The episode is expected to become available online within several days.