FREE SPEECH AWARD NIEUWSPOORT TO HANS VERPLOEG (1945-2010)

 

International press centre Nieuwspoort celebrates its 50^th anniversary as the perfect location in the centre of the national political arena, where the parliamentary press, politicians, spokespersons and lobbyists informally meet and where press conferences, debates and meetings are held daily.

 

From March 5-8 2012 Nieuwspoort's 50th anniversary committee is organising a wide variety of events. One of these events is scheduled to take place on March 6 next in Nieuwspoort, The Hague where Hans Verploeg (1945-2010) will be awarded posthumously with Nieuwspoort's Free Speech Award.

 

Karla Peijs, Chair of the Roosevelt Stichting will speak about the importance of FDR's Four Freedoms and the Freedom of Speech and Expression award 2012 to Al Jazeera. On behalf of Al Jazeera Lotfi Hajji, head of the Al Jazeera Channel Tunisia Bureau will speak on the meaning and importance of press freedom in today's world.

 

Nieuwspoort's jury, which was chaired by dr. Ernst Hirsch Ballin, has decided to give this prize posthumously to Hans Verploeg, who was a boardmember and Secretary of the NVJ (Dutch Journalism Association) for over 25 years, co-founder of Free Voice Netherlands and worldwide pioneer of free press.

 

Advocating both national and international for press freedom, Hans Verploeg petitioned for Al Jazeera reporters and cameramen who were banned from Algeria and he protested broadly when one of their offices was bombed in Bagdad in 2003 killing one of their reporters. In September 2008 he organised the event “Better Journalism … More Freedom” together with Hassan Rachidi of Al Jazeera.

 

The Free Speech Award for Hans Verploeg will be accepted by his widow, Inge Brakman during a programme in which a representative from Al Jazeera will speak also on press freedom in today’s world and the importance of Hans Verploeg’s work in that respect.

 

The first Free Speech award by Nieuwspoort was given to Max van der Stoel, laureate of the first Freedom of Speech and Expression medal in the Netherlands in 1982.

 

 

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