Ad Verbrugge and Flavio Pasquino on framing, censorship and the future of alternative media

In this episode, Paul Buitink talks to Ad Verbrugge (De Nieuwe Wereld) and Flavio Pasquino (blckbx) about their media channels and the future of alternative media. Paul asks Ad Verbrugge and Flavio Pasquino what it's like to be dismissed as a conspiracy thinker or wappie channel.

Ad calls this an easy way to disqualify the channels. He sees this as a certificate of inability. Furthermore, he talks about a wappie terminology that has arisen and has been fed by the mainstream media and even the government in the person of Hugo de Jonge. This has led to exclusion and the dehumanization of people. Both Ad and Flavio indicate that they are open to mainstream guests, but it is not always easy to get these guests into their show.

Flavio does make the comment that they like to tell the story that they think is underexposed. As a result, it is less often released by mainstream guests and you can be seen as a niche channel with a certain image. Both men are concerned about the Digital Services Act that could restrict freedom of speech even further. This could even result in their channels being deplatformed. Flavio is very concerned about this because he expects that there will be no outrage in society if this happens. Ad doesn't expect this to lead to much fuss either. He does, however, see a growing counter-movement from which he draws hope for the future.