News from Amsterdam


To the front page

11/1 Jurists want to stay in Oudemanhuispoort

8/2 Mayor’s portrait

8/2 Websites for social cohesion

7/2 Spreading tourism proceeds with difficulty

7/2 GroenLinks on districts: Be a man

6/2 Zuideramstel opens new office on Sabbath

5/2 The truth about integration

4/2 Wilders has little support on Amsterdam

3/2 Elite involved in neighbourhood

2/2 Johnnie Walker avoids taxes in Amsterdam

1/2 Rotterdam to tinker with district councils as well

31/1 Wooden rowing boats to disappear from Amstel

31/1 ZeeburgTV launched

27/1 Privacy activists to mess up loyalty card system

27/1 A few were still coughing, but that was an act

27/1 Chrisis in de Baarsjes

26/1 Youth have positive view of districts

24/1 Action groups call for Carmel and Jaffa boycott

24/1 PvdA members dismiss plan for districts

23/1 KLM takes on crisis with new uniform

23/1 District office not squatted

21/1 Merge districts

20/1 Closing squat bar Vrankrijk not necessary

20/1 Cleaners welcome new Schiphol director

18/1 Palestine at the Jewish Historical Museum

18/1 What is the right size for a district?

17/1 PvdA Oost against fewer districts

16/1 Committee: 7 districts by 2010

15/1 Soldiers may attend Afghanistan debate after all

15/1 Bait bike leads to arrest

14/1 Youth for Christ to republish vacancies

13/1 Paintings of the Zuidas

13/1 New Youth for Christ contoversy

11/1 Social cohesion initiative raises eyebrows

10/1 Fewer districts in 2010

10/1 Zuidas: People feel that we are losers

9/1 Fun on the ice - but not for all

9/1 Supermarket coupon fraud thwarted

9/1 I Amsterdam must remain exclusive

8/1 Use term Apartheid in every discussion

8/1 No city kiosk in Amsterdam yet

7/1 Snow

7/1 Fatima Elatik to run Zeeburg

7/1 Municipal managers to return to shop floor

4/1 Police: take photo of strange people

3/1 Gaza protest criticises politicians

1/1 Thousands to protest against attacks on Gaza

1/1 Mustapha Laboui leaves district council

 

2008 Archive

2007 Archive

2006 Archive

2005 Archive

 

 

 

 

Positive news, but not for AT5

5 November 2008 - 'Inspiring and meaningful events' are underreported in the media, claims the Zinfo website. As an antidote, media including AT5 will report positive news stories next Friday. Ironically, AT5 reporters themselves just learned that they might lose their jobs.

Zinfo claims that 83% of the Dutch want the media to report more positive news stories. The website quotes media guru Irene Costera Meijer: "Whenever Balkenende farts it will be broadcast, but people want to be inspired by the news".

In order to meet that demand, Zinfo has declared next Friday Positive News Day. Participants in the initiative include national media such as NOS Headlines, Metro, Trouw, 3FM and FunX, as well as a host of regional media, including Amsterdam TV station AT5.

Judging by the Zinfo website, we are in for some politically correct news next Friday. Earlier stories at the site include:
* Young unemployed women in de Bijlmer have launched Powerlady Magazine
* Hotels and restaurants hand out packed lunches to homeless people in Amsterdam
* The New York Times has declared Amsterdam the coolest city
* A 'polder' mosque has opened in Slotervaart
* The Amsterdam police have discovered meditation and tai chi
* Amsterdam joins in giving free hugs for world peace
* Date a dog day in the Amsterdamse Bos

Meanwhile, things are looking far from positive at AT5. Today, het Parool reports that the station will stop using the services of its 10 to 15 freelance reporters as of Monday and that the jobs of its 80 to 90 regular staff are in danger as well. Director John de Zwart cites disappointing advertising sales as the main cause.

Earlier this year, Costera Meijer advised AT5 to focus more on feel-good television and to strengthen the 'I Amsterdam'-feeling. However, innovative plans will now be put on ice, De Zwart told het Parool.

Parool, Zinfo (both in Dutch)

 

Want to receive News from Amsterdam? Click here

This is the old website. Please find new content here