The author admits to contributing to the exaggeration of the divide between urban and rural areas in their reporting for the Volkskrant, acknowledging that media can amplify societal gaps. This confession comes after a reader pointed out the newspaper’s own role in perpetuating the narrative of a city-country opposition.

The author reflects on past experiences, particularly assignments following election results where they were sent to rural areas to capture the sentiments of right-wing voters. These “hit-and-run reports” often involved seeking out vocal supporters of parties like PVV and FvD, potentially skewing the overall representation of views in those regions.

One specific example cited is a trip to Drenthe after the 2021 parliamentary elections. While the author insists the reporting was factually accurate and socially relevant, they concede that it primarily sought confirmation of pre-existing notions and tapped into local resentment. The headline, “Emmen is against,” further solidified this biased portrayal, despite the fact that a majority of voters in the area supported other parties.

The author acknowledges the power of media influence and expresses a desire for more honesty and transparency in journalism. Instead of downplaying the impact of individual articles, they admit that the Volkskrant, and the author themselves, have at times contributed to widening the perceived gap between city and country.