Accreditation

Journalists, including photographers, camera operators and other media representatives who wish to be in the buildings of the House of Representatives for the purposes of their work require accreditation. This means that they receive official authorisation to report on parliamentary and political activities in (the secured section of) the House of Representatives building. In granting accreditation, the Presidium applies the following framework.

Definitions

As guidance in defining the terms journalist and (recognised) mass medium, the House of Representatives has taken the definitions used by the Netherlands Association for Journalists (NVJ) on their website. For a journalist wishing to apply for accreditation for the House of Representatives, this means that their main profession must be that of journalist and they must carry out journalistic work that can be proven by means of a statement from the employer and/or client(s). Journalist conduct their work in editorial independence and avoid any conflicts of interest, or appearance thereof. Another key principle is that the journalistic work must be done for a (recognised) mass medium. A recognise mass medium is defined as any medium that targets a large part of the general public and is available to everyone. The medium must largely be made up of news, analysis, commentary and/or background information about a range of (parliamentary) news and current events.

Permanent accreditation

Accreditation conditions

A journalist can qualify for permanent accreditation if he or she:

• is generally present in Parliament several days each week to report on parliamentary and political activities in the House of Representatives;
• works for a parliamentary/political editorial department. A parliamentary/political editorial department is a separate editorial team within a recognised mass medium that reports on parliamentary and/or political activities;
• works for a medium that is editorially independent. Accreditation will not be granted to non-journalists, lobbyists, consultants or others with ancillary activities that the Presidium deems to be irreconcilable with permanent accreditation as a journalist. This means, for example, that an applicant must not be working for, on behalf of or at the direction of a parliamentary group, political party or movement.