On-site reporting in the Netherlands

This chapter traces the emergence of this new professional practice within the Netherlands within its transnational context, focusing specifically on the emergence of on-site reporting as one of the central elements of the new journalistic toolkit. It shows the intricate ways in which the emergence of new journalism and on-site reporting and their specific development within the Dutch context are tied to that of other countries such as the U.S., Great Britain, and France, while preserving specific national idiosyncrasies as well. It demonstrates how the development of on-site reporting was shaped a combination of country-specific characteristics of the press such as the loyal pillarized audience and the strong subscription culture, the appeal of the commercial success of new journalism abroad and within the Netherlands, and the persistent critique of its low quality, which fueled by a suspicion of anything reeking of ‘Americanization.’ This chapter demonstrates the value of such a transnational perspective through the nuanced picture that is offered through the analysis of the divergent attitudes toward and specific integration and adaptation of on-site reporting as part of an emerging event-centered and fact-oriented professional framework.