Dutch Royal House Code of Conduct for the Press (Media Code)

[Marengo]

Website zijonline has an article about the mediacode here (in Dutch only).

The title is ' good news for (gossip magazine) Prive, bad news for the RVD'.

The European court has ruled against Princess Caroline of Monaco and she has to allow that magazines have a right to publish her holiday photos as they have news value. As the Dutch mediacode is based on the first ruling of the European court of Princess Caroline against the German rags, this means that Dutch courts will probably have to do the same in Dutch magazines decide to publish holiday photos of the RF.

 

[Marengo]

The RVD is going to sue the Leeuwarder Courant as the newspaper published a picture of the prince of Orange, princess Máxima and their daughters holidaying on the lakes in Friesland.

The newspaper won't be invited to photo shoots of the family either.

 

[Florencia]

Dutch royals take Associated Press to court.http://www.royalblog.nl/

 

[Marengo]

Magazine 'Nieuwe Revu' has announced that they will no longer comply with the media code, and placed a picture of princess Catharina-Amalia playing field hockey in their latest issue. The editor thinks that the media code is not fitting fora modern democracy.

Nieuwe Revu breekt mediacode Oranjes - MEDIA - PAROOL

By the time that the princesses have reached an age that they will be more interesting for the press I am sure that many more will break the code btw.

 

[Marengo]

This afternoon, the RVD (goverment information service) started a legal procedure against the magazine Nieuwe Revu.

Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst daagt Nieuwe Revu wegens publicaties foto's Amalia :: nrc.nl

 

[Marengo]

It seems that the magazine underestimated the effect of their breech of the media code. They said they didn't expect the RVD to start a lawsuit, just a few days before the inauguration. The editor also says that placing the photos of a 9 y/o girl wasn't 'the best idea ever'. He says that he should have looked for pictures of adult members of the RF.

 

[NGalitzine]

In other words the editor thought the royal household would be too busy getting ready for the inauguragtion and he could get away with publishing the pictures and breaking the code of conduct. Doesn't sound like an excuse that would hold up in court.

 

[COUNTESS]

Why the fuss? They are very open a fair minded people. They know they make news, especially in these days.

 

[NGalitzine]

Why the fuss? They are very open a fair minded people. They know they make news, especially in these days.

Hmm, minor child photographed on a school playground without permission, published without permission, violation of the media code. What is so hard to understand? They have sued successfully in the past where their children are concerned.

 

[lucien]

Hmm, minor child photographed on a school playground without permission, published without permission, violation of the media code. What is so hard to understand? They have sued successfully in the past where their children are concerned.

This had nothing to do with a media code,this has everything to do with a rotten magazine with lousy articles and dwelling numbers of subscriptions,from 58.000 to 32000 in less then two years and they use Amalia to raise the sales!A minor photographed without permission indeed,what if it was one of the children of one of out posters or guests...would they allow some a-hole to take pics of their child?..Nah.don't think so...Well,they're sooo lucky I'm not around,i would kick 'm in a canal on first sight and walk on whistling..Infuriating twisted scum,that's all Nieuwe Revu is.And thank goodness for the Media-code and let no-one think they can screw that in this idiotic age of hypes and wipes.Nunca!They will NEVER set the rules!!

 

[NGalitzine]

!A minor photographed without permission indeed,what if it was one of the children of one of out posters or guests...would they allow some a-hole to take pics of their child?..Nah.don't think so...

Actually in parts of Canada it would be illegal. Last year during the heat wave a friend of mine took his 2 yr old to a public park to play in a wading pool. A newspaper photographer took their picture but appraoched the father with a consent form to sign explaining that it would be illegal for the paper to publish the minor childs photograph without parental consent.

 

[Marengo]

The Government Information Service (RVD) has won the case against magazine 'Nieuwe Revu' about photos of Princess Amalia playing hockey.

According to the judge, the magazine harmed the privacy of the princess. The judge things that the breach of privacy is mor eimportant than the 'news value' of the pictures. The fact that Amalia is still a minor also played an important part in the decision of the judge.

The magazine claims that it published the pictures to make a point: that the media code is not right in a democracy.

RVD wint rechtszaak over hockeyfoto's Amalia - Binnenland - VK

 

[Marengo]

VPRO programme 'Argos Medialogica' broadcasted an episode yesterday about the mediacode. The episode is titled 'Sources around the court'.

https://www.npostart.nl/argos-medialogica/11-04-2021/VPWON_1328826

They interviewed royalty reporters and asked how they decide what to publish and what not. The editorial line was that the mediacode is handy for the king as it allows him to control his own image. Reporters are hesitent to publish things that can be seen elsewhere (on social media for example). They wonder if the mediacode is still suited to the present day and age.

A reporter who -with her personal twitter account 'liked' a video of Máxima where the queen could be seen dancing in Sevilla - received an email from the RVD telling her that it was a breach of privacy which would have consequences for the reporter's access to the RF. She decided to remove her 'like'. The video on youtube in the mean time has been viewed by 800.000 people and the RVD has not tried to have it removed.

During the 'press moments' in state visits each reporter is allowed to ask 1 question. The questions need to be handed to the RVD a day in advance. Sometimes questions are not allowed. The RVD states that they try to make sure the answers need to be in line with the ministerial responsibility. They also say they want to make sure the focus is as much as possible on the state visit itself. A question about the king's beard was allowed though not appreciated by the RVD. A question about recycled outfits of the queen was not allowed.

The photo of the king and queen on their speedboat in Greece was considered 'private'. Dutch media did not print it, the German Bild did. But in the months that followed the new speedboat became news as it was bought in COVID times. So why would such a photo be forbidden?

The photo of the king and queen not abiding by Greek COVID regulations was posted by a Greek restaurant owner on his social media. Reporters were unsure what to do. Only when RTL decided that it was 'news' and went ahead in showing the photo, others followed their lead. The RVD did not take any actions against them.

Sometimes such private photos are allowed when it is in the interest of the RF. An example was the princess of Orange attending a debate in parliament. Reporters thought this was private, as she was among other spectators. When they approached the RVD much to their surprise they were allowed to use the videos. Ánd the RVD even supplied them with extra information: the princess is very interested in politics and has attended other debates as well.

Access to the two annual photo session of the King and his family are used as a reward for the press that does follow the media code. Nobody wants to lose access to it as they give a rare opportunity to picture the princesses. It motivates them to follow the media code the rest of the year.

Royalty reporter Marc van der Linden defended the media code in RTL Boulevard, pointing out that the king has won several court cases, also against the German Bild Zeitung (for the photo of the king and queen on their speedboat in Greece):

https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/entertainm...ode-van-ons-koningshuis-nog-wel-van-deze-tijd

An lawyer points out that it gets difficult when the princesses will reach adulthood and when their own photos are shared on social media - as we have seen with countess Eloise for example.