DPG Media publishes first annual journalism impact report
Alongside the presentation of its 2024 annual figures, DPG Media is releasing an annual impact report on its journalistic activities for the first time. In this report, the 16 editorial boards of the Belgian and Dutch news titles look back at the dilemmas, journalistic productions and innovations of the previous year.
In stating the reasons for an annual impact report on journalism, Erik van Gruijthuijsen, general director of publishing at DPG Media, could not be clearer: “Journalism is coming under increasing scrutiny. It is essential for news desks to show that they produce high-quality, creative and reliable stories. This annual impact report shows how news media at DPG Media operate as professionals in journalism, with editorial boards keen to offer accountability for our role in society."
Giving a clear account of that role is essential, agrees Philippe Remarque, director of journalism at DPG Media. Especially at a time when big tech is raking in more attention and revenue at the expense of traditional media, there are real opportunities for journalism. But in order to take them, he observes, change is needed. “We have to make journalism better than it has ever been. Only then can we fulfil the role that our society so desperately needs: a key position in the search for truth, offering insight and nuanced debate.”
Remarque describes the change needed to make this happen: “We must remain meticulous in our reporting, but also get better at the informal types of journalism that are popular today. In doing so, we should connect more with our audience, be more transparent and listen more closely to our readers’ concerns. We also intend to create greater scope for journalism that offers solutions and inspires people. And we need to have the courage to examine our mistakes with a view to building greater trust.”
What makes DPG Media’s annual impact report on journalism special is that it follows in the tradition of leading media outlets such as The New York Times and The Guardian, organisations that account extensively and publicly for their journalistic choices. This is the first initiative on such a scale in Belgium and the Netherlands.