The News Media Landscape: An overview of the context of Press Freedom and Regulation in the Netherlands

The News Media Landscape: An Overview of the Context of Press Freedom and Regulation in the Netherlands examines the structure, regulation and cultural context of journalism in the Netherlands. The report was produced as part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project Defining Freedom of the Press: A Cross-National Examination of Press Ethics and Regulation, which explores and compares systems of press freedom and ethics across a range of European democracies. It outlines constitutional safeguards for freedom of expression, the regulatory framework for public and commercial media, and the role of self-regulation. The report examines the structure of the media landscape, including ownership concentration and the relationship between public service and commercial publishers. It explores patterns of audience news consumption, levels of public trust, and the growth of digital and online-only news outlets. Further sections address journalism culture, professional ethics, and challenges related to misinformation, political polarisation and journalist safety. The report provides a detailed national case study designed to inform comparative research on press regulation, ethics and media freedom within democratic systems.