RNW Media

This article is about the current non-governmental organization. For RNW Media's former existence as a shortwave radio station, see Radio Netherlands Worldwide.
RNW Media
Public
Industry Mass media
Founded 1947/2013
Headquarters Hilversum, The Netherlands
Website www.rnw.org

RNW Media (acronym of its former name Radio Nederland Wereldomroep; English: Radio Netherlands Worldwide), is a public multimedia non-governmental organisation based in Hilversum, the Netherlands.[1]

Its productions are intended for international audiences outside the Netherlands, especially young people (aged 15 to 30), in countries where free speech and the existence of a free press are at risk.[1][2] In its current incarnation, launched on January 1, 2013,[3] RNW Media has a mission to promote free speech and independent journalism through the use of new media in areas where people are not free to gather information or to form and express independent opinions.[2][1] RNW Media has websites in English, Spanish, Mandarin, French and Arabic. RNW Media aims to media for change; with innovative approaches to media and training, the organisation connects communities and change-makers, enabling young people to make informed choices.

Since January 2013, RNW Media has been funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs rather than by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science which funded Radio Netherlands. Its current funding allotment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends until the end of 2016. RNW Media has been directed by the Dutch government to generate its own income, and it is therefore also seeking funding from the European Union, charitable foundations, sponsorship and advertising.[4]

The Dutch government's subsidy to RNW was initially €14 million a year in 2013, a cut from the €45 million a year subsidy to RNW's predecessor, Radio Netherlands Worldwide. The subsidy was subsequently reduced to €12 million in 2016 and is to be entirely eliminated in 2020 with the expectation that RNW will fund itself entirely by competing with other NGOs for grants on a project by project basis from the government and charitable foundations as well as other revenue streams.[5] As a result of cuts in funding, staffing levels have fallen from more than 300 in the last years of Radio Netherlands to 91 in 2016 when further layoffs were announced, including of Managing Director Robert Zaal, reducing the staff to 30 by 2017.[5]

RNW Media is actively producing content aimed at people in the People's Republic of China and 17 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Arab world, where it promotes free expression and a free press.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "About RNW Media". Official website of RNW Media. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Why we exist". Official website of RNW Media. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  3. ↑ http://www.rnw.org/rnw-history
  4. ↑ http://www.rnw.org/faq#Q: How is RNW Media funded?
  5. 1 2 http://nos.nl/artikel/2134589-voormalige-wereldomroep-ontslaat-twee-derde-personeel.html
  6. ↑ http://www.rnw.org/where-we-work
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