Every Sunday, the editor-in-chief of NU.nl gives you a behind-the-scenes look. Our profession is becoming more difficult every day, concludes editor-in-chief Lindsay Mossink after a week with disinformation in the White House and journalistic considerations surrounding Gaza and Israel.
This week, it happened again in the White House. Donald Trump surprised the South African president with claims about white farmers. They would be expropriated, persecuted, and murdered. There is little to nothing true about that, nor about claims that South Africa is committing genocide.
My colleague Nick Augusteijn explained that in an extensive fact check. Video maker Roos de Ridder supplemented the message by zooming in once again on the images that Trump showed with an explainer – which you can view below.
Much-needed clarification on a remarkable outburst by the American president.
It is worrying that the most powerful man in the world, whether we fact-check or not, still plants a seed that can take on a life of its own. It shows that we have to be very sharp.
Trump Spoke of ‘Evidence’, But Ramaphosa Got to See Something Else
It also remains difficult around Gaza and Israel. We noted these weeks that we need to be more visibly critical of the Israeli government. In our news reports, the ever-increasing suffering of the Gazans does not always come to the fore sufficiently.
This was followed by a story about how the international community is awaiting the genocide verdict:
Like an article after we contacted Palestinians in Gaza:
In society, a ‘red line’ is increasingly being drawn. The question of whether a journalistic news title like NU.nl should itself speak of genocide arises.
Yet I don’t think that’s up to us. Although we can (or even should) at least write that experts and authorities are now speaking of genocidal violence in Gaza.
It is up to us to repeatedly sketch the bigger picture: the misery, the hunger, the statements by Israel to occupy all of Gaza. Just like the multifaceted Israeli perspective, which we continue to follow and report on.
One thing is clear: it’s not easy at all.