Every day, the editorial staff at the UKrant wonders: What are we writing about, why are we writing about it, and how are we writing about it? ‘At UKrant’, an irregular column, we take a look behind the scenes.
UKrant has eight columnists (five Dutch and three international) who take turns shedding light on the University of Groningen, higher education, the academic community, or student life in Groningen.
And sometimes on entirely different subjects. Columnists decide for themselves what to write about and how to write it. The university serves as the hub or focal point (what the Germans aptly call the Dreh- und Angelpunkt), but UKrant’s editorial team neither directs nor imposes restrictions on them.
In recent months, several columns by various authors have been the target of similar criticism. Examples include comments like: ‘What a worthless piece of journalism, the writer isn’t objective’, ‘I expect a neutral stance from a serious outlet like UKrant‘, ‘The writer doesn’t apply balance or seek opposing views’, and ‘The author is so cynical, unworthy of journalism.’
In other words, some readers take issue with the content and tone of these columns. That’s entirely valid because tastes differ, after all.
However, there’s a fundamental difference between a factual, carefully balanced journalistic news article (which must adhere to journalistic standards like objectivity and fairness) and a column, where much more creative liberty is allowed. The Dutch Leidraad voor de Journalistiek (Guidelines for Journalism) even specifies: ‘Columnists are free to express their opinions about events and people.’
A column should tease, challenge, exaggerate and provoke thought
Columnists are not expected to provide an objective account but rather an authentic and provocative opinion. A good column should tease, challenge, exaggerate, provoke thought, and magnify issues. The Leidraad also states: ‘Stylistic tools like exaggeration and deliberate one-sidedness are permitted.’
Does this mean a columnist can write anything that comes to mind? Not exactly. UKrant has rules. A columnist who seriously claims the Earth is flat would be dismissed because that’s nonsense. Subjectivity is encouraged, but dishonesty is not. Being provocative is fine; spreading falsehoods is not. Exaggerating and magnifying issues are acceptable; making baseless claims is not.
Part of the issue, as noted by some of UKrant’s student editors in a recent editorial meeting, is that the distinction between a column and a factual article on the UKrant website isn’t always clear to unsuspecting readers. They may have a point, and this is something we will address seriously in the new year.
Rob Siebelink, editor-in-chief UKrant