Brussels news platform BRUZZ criticises budget cuts Flemish government
In an open letter, the editorial team of the Brussels news platform BRUZZ criticises the Flemish government's budget cuts, which result in four employees losing their jobs. BRUZZ also fears that there will be less space for in-depth television and radio broadcasts and investigative journalism.
In light of the Flemish government's austerity measures, BRUZZ, the brand of the non-profit media organisation Vlaams-Brusselse Media (Flemish-Brussels Media), must save 434,000 euros per year. As a result, four employees have to leave.
In addition, “the television channel will lose space for in-depth reporting, radio staffing and broadcasts will shrink, and our multilingual cultural magazine BRUZZ Select will disappear”, the editorial team writes in an open letter to Flemish minister for Brussels and media Cieltje Van Achter and the Flemish government. “At least fifteen freelance employees, translators and photographers will lose a significant part of their assignments.”
The popular Big City section, for questions from the city, is also being discontinued. “As things stand at the moment, the same applies to our youth label Ice, which reaches thousands of young people and is admired by other media,” the editorial team states. According to BRUZZ, there is no other Flemish-Brussels institution that “has to suffer as much as we do in proportion”.
"French-speaking Brussels residents look with envy at our multilingual and open project"
BRUZZ further criticises the media minister for restricting the news offering for Brussels residents who speak other languages. “You and your party (N-VA, ed.) want to promote Dutch in Brussels, but what about the large group of non-Dutch-speaking Brussels residents who flock to our Flemish cultural temples, often because of reports in BRUZZ?” asks the editorial team, adding that “French-speaking Brussels residents look with envy at our multilingual and open project for the city”. BRUZZ calls on Flemish MPs to review the cuts in order to safeguard jobs at BRUZZ.
In addition to BRUZZ, the Flemish government's cuts also affect the Flemish Community Commission (VGC), Dutch-language childcare initiatives, Dutch-language education and the university VUB in Brussels.
#FlandersNewsService | The headquarters of Flemish-Brussels media brand BRUZZ © BELGA PHOTO MARISE GHYSELINGS
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