Netherlands Radio and Television Association (NOS) – Bias and Credibility

These media sources are slightly to moderately conservative in bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes) to favor conservative causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information, but may require further investigation. See all Right-Center sources.

• Overall, we rate Nederlandse Omroep Stichting or NOS Right-Center biased based on story selection that slightly favors the right and High for factual reporting based on proper sourcing. By American standards, this would be a Least Biased source.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: HIGH
Country: Netherlands
Press Freedom Rating: EXCELLENT
Media Type: TV/Radio
Traffic/Popularity: High Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: HIGH CREDIBILITY

History

Founded in May 1969, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (Netherlands Radio and Television Association) or (NOS), is a Dutch Public service broadcaster. It is headquartered in Nederland. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting or NOS is responsible for coordinating the public service broadcasting system. The public broadcasting system in the Netherlands consists of three tv-channels and six radio stations nationwide and thirteen regional television and radio broadcasters. NOS has a special statutory obligation to make news and sports programs for the three Dutch public television channels and the Dutch public radio services. According to the NOS about page “It operates independently from the government, even though the Dutch public broadcasting system is partially funded by taxpayers’ money.” The Board of directors is Jan de Jong (CEO) and Geert Hofman (CFO).

According to opensocietyfoundations.org, NOS is a respected and trusted news source. According to Reporters Without Borders “The Dutch media are staunchly independent and legally protected.”

Read our profile on the Netherlands government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

NOS is partially taxpayer-funded and provides advertising for additional revenue.

Analysis / Bias 

In review, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (Netherlands Radio and Television Association) utilizes minimally loaded language both in their headlines and articles such as “Trump starts trade war with the EU: levy on steel and aluminum” and national news “’Shortages of antibiotics due to monopoly on raw materials.’”  NOS is always very well-sourced through The Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANP), which in the Netherlands, ANP represents the news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA). They also use pro-science sources such as KNMP.nl, which is the Dutch Pharmacy Association.

While the wording of articles is generally neutral and sourced there is evidence that NOS supports or perhaps does not reject the right-wing anti-immigrant and nationalist positions of the PVV party headed by Geert Wilders. For example, in this article “Wilders wipes court in ‘less Moroccan’ case” NOS does not mention that Wilders and the PVV party are right-wing nationalists. Whereas coverage from the left-leaning Guardian accurately identifies Wilders’s political affiliation as ‘far-right.” Further, NOS named Wilders the Politician of 2007.

Failed Fact Checks

• None in the Last 5 years

Overall, we rate Nederlandse Omroep Stichting or NOS right-center biased based on story selection that slightly favors the right and High for factual reporting based on proper sourcing. By American standards, this would be a Least Biased source. (M. Huitsing 5/31/2018) Updated (3/9/2019)

Source: https://nos.nl