A clear call to action can be heard from the media and cultural sector: make a confidential counselor mandatory.
As many as 1,2 million people experience inappropriate behaviour in the workplace in the Netherlands (source: TNO and CBS). Some sectors seem to be more affected by this than others: we see and read about numerous abuses in the media and culture sector.
The abuses due to the unsafe climate from The Voice are perhaps the best known, brought to light by an extensive report by BOOS in January 2022. The more recent examples from the media world is the controversy surrounding talk show host Matthijs van Nieuwkerk of De Wereld Draait Door and the editorial staff of NOS Sport. In the cultural sector, the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) has been discredited several times by teachers or an artist affiliated with the KABK who were guilty of sexually undesirable behaviour - Julian Andeweg - who has now been convicted. And at the beginning of September 2023, director Jarrod Francisco of the Likeminds theater house in Amsterdam was suspended due to multiple reports of inappropriate behaviour spread over a period of thirteen years. An old friend of Francisco, Pierre Ballings, is the chairman of the Supervisory Board of Likeminds. In addition to these reports of cross-border behaviour, Likeminds' finances also appear to be incorrect, even though this is mandatory according to the Standards for Top Incomes Act (WNT).
Will a confidential counselor become mandatory in the media and cultural sector?
The call for one external confidential counsellor in the media and culture sector to tackle abuses in the sector is increasingly audible. Audiovisual media companies have concluded a media pact 'respectful cooperation': a covenant with a code of conduct and also the agreement that the media parties affiliated to the agreement must appoint a confidential counselor. One of the other first concrete measures is the development of an e-learning course that all employees of audiovisual media companies must follow. This should be available to employees in January 2024. NPO, RTL, Talpa, NCP, NEP The Netherlands and NCP are currently signatories to the pact.
Steps are also being taken in the cultural sector. Following an extensive report on the mismanagement and abuses of cultural institution Likeminds (which receives an annual subsidy of 1,4 million euros), councilors from the municipality of Amsterdam asked questions to cultural councilor Touria Meliani (Green Left). Meliani intends to include an additional assessment criterion on social safety in the municipality's next arts plan. Cultural institutions that want to receive a subsidy from the municipality must demonstrate that they have an active policy and protocols to guarantee social safety in the workplace. The new Art Plan runs from 2025-2028. Until then, the subsidized Amsterdam cultural institutions have time to develop and implement policies for social safety.
The show must go on: Why are there so many abuses in the media and cultural sector?
As early as June 2021, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science submitted a request for advice to the Council for Culture to investigate undesirable behaviour in the cultural and creative sector (including media). A year later, the Council for Culture published the extensive report 'Across the border' with a number of observations as to why the risk is greater in the sector:
- It is a sector with a lot of supply and limited purchasing options. Casting directors, teachers at art training courses, artistic directors or curators act as 'gatekeepers' and can deny access to the field. This leads to power
relationships in the workplace that lead to social insecurity. - In addition, the sector often works with flexible contracts and self-employed people. This creates job insecurity and competition. This can also lead to situations where:
boundaries are easily crossed. - Furthermore, 'romantic' images of the artist still prevail, who must suffer to achieve great art. The sector is characterized by a performance culture,
which leads to artists raising the performance bar higher and higher, for themselves and others. - Lack of inclusion is also mentioned as a major problem: culture & media makers from minority groups are often excluded and experience forms of aggression and discrimination.
- There are specific problems within art education. Students must be vulnerable and open during their studies, which blurs professional boundaries. Teachers are not always didactically trained and come directly from the field. This can also cause socially unsafe situations.
- When it comes to recognizing, acknowledging and discussing undesirable behaviour, the Council for Culture sees that there is a culture of silence. There are also few rules and guidelines in the creative and cultural 'free' sector, which means that few people know their way to the policy guidelines and protocols when it comes to unwanted behaviour.
Guarantee of social safety in the workplace in the media and culture sector with a confidential counselor
It seems that the municipality of Amsterdam and the audiovisual media companies are not waiting for the new legislation that requires a confidential counselor in the media and culture sector and are already taking matters into their own hands. Perhaps this is a good thing, given the vulnerabilities in these sectors. It therefore seems only a matter of time before the rest of the larger municipalities follow suit.
With Trustlr you automatically comply with all legislation regarding reducing psychosocial work burden and the upcoming rules regarding the availability of confidential counsellors. At the same time, we will work to really make a difference for your team.
- Visible and accessible
- Focus on prevention with prevention tools
- customised implementation plan
- Free consultation hour: Reducing barriers, effective and cost-saving.
- Independent sparring partner: For employees, MT and internal confidential counselor
- Proactivity: action in the event of undesirable behaviour is important for the reporter and the organisation
- Affordable solution: We want to be accessible to both employees and organisations.
Want to know more about what Trustrl can do? Then also view the page confidential counselor in the media and cultural sector en schedule an appointment of download the brochure