Members of the Press and Print Foundation (Stichting Pers & Prent), a Dutch cartooning organization supporting political artists and free speech in the Netherlands, joined other media organizations to protest a proposed tax increase on newspapers and magazines. The VAT increase, from 9% to 21%, was proposed in May. It was immediately opposed by NDP Newsmedia, the Dutch Association of Journalists, and the Dutch Society of Editors-in-Chief. With 33 days left before Budget Day, media organizations are teaming up with 33 Dutch artists to create a daily original cartoon or illustration for use on social media to pressure the government to drop the tax increase.
NDP Newsmedia warns that if the tax goes into effect it will lead to many readers to cancel their subscriptions (Google English translation below).
A number of regional and small news titles are in danger of disappearing in the long term and especially news media with small margins are facing an uncertain future. This undermines the watchdog function of the free press and the plurality of the news landscape is in danger of being compromised.
The first illustration (above) was created by Press and Print Foundation member Kwennie Cheng.
Visit https://www.stripdebtw.nl each day for the latest cartoon (Monday-Saturdays). To join in the campaign, organizers are asking supporters to post the stripdebtw cartoon on social media with the hashtag #stripdebtw.