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

[NGalitzine]

Originally Posted by lucien

!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-medial.../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/entertainme...-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.