Criticism of NOS Supervisory Board Following Revelations About Salaries
Amsterdam, vrijdag, 9 mei 2025.
In a recent broadcast of EenVandaag, journalist and NVJ board member Sander ‘t Sas expressed sharp criticism of the Supervisory Board of NOS. The reason behind this was revelations about excessive fees for interim roles within the public broadcaster. ‘t Sas emphasised that programme makers are the victims due to cuts in other budgets, and that the broadcaster’s reputation is suffering as a result. He placed the responsibility mainly on the supervisors, who, according to him, are failing in their duty of responsible governance. This issue has led to political debates and public outrage, once again putting trust in NOS to the test.
The Impact of AI on Modern Journalism
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has played a prominent role in the evolution of journalism. Through data analysis and automation, news organisations can now swiftly search complex datasets to generate stories that would otherwise remain hidden [GPT]. An example of this is the application of AI at networks like AP, where the AI system Wordsmith is used to produce thousands of news stories per quarter, mainly for sports reports and financial accounts [1].
How AI is Applied
AI systems are specifically trained to analyse and interpret large amounts of data to create useful journalistic content. Through natural language processing (NLP), these systems can understand and replicate human text, enabling AI to perform mild editorial tasks. This means journalists can now focus more on in-depth investigative journalism and less on repetitive content [2].
Benefits of AI in News Production
One of the greatest advantages of AI in journalism is the speed at which it can process data. Whereas reporters previously spent hours analysing data, AI can accomplish this in mere seconds. It can also identify and predict trends, which is useful for news organisations to anticipate relevant issues [3]. Moreover, AI reduces operational costs by automating routine tasks [4].
Potential Drawbacks and Ethical Considerations
Although AI holds great promise, it also brings challenges. A major concern is the ethics surrounding algorithmically generated content. There is a risk of bias within datasets used by AI, which could lead to prejudiced reporting [5]. Furthermore, there is fear that AI might threaten jobs in journalism, though experts believe it will serve more as a tool rather than a replacement for human journalists [6].
Impact on News Consumption
The incorporation of AI in journalism has also changed the way we consume news. Personalised news feeds, powered by AI, deliver content specifically tailored to the reader’s preferences, which can encourage both a positive experience and the dissemination of siloed information [7]. This raises questions about the diversity of sources the average reader consumes [8].