Hard-hitting campaigns demand strong journalism

The coming months will be entirely focused on the rector elections at this university, and not without reason. In this edition, former editor-in-chief and current Knack journalist Walter Pauli points out that these might be the most important rector elections of this century. Everyone knows these are complex times, the question now is who is suitable to steer the university through these turbulent waters. 

As a student magazine, we also feel the importance of these elections in our editorial work. We notice how candidates, camps, and pressure groups position themselves and try to seize the narrative. Good, independent journalism is more important than ever. This involves making choices, choices that we want to clarify for you so that you know what you can expect from us. 

In these first two weeks, we have given all candidates a place to announce their candidacy. Extensive if possible, brief if necessary. Moreover, we have always offered these candidacies in English as well, because KU Leuven has long ceased to be an exclusively Dutch-speaking institution. In the first edition of Veto this academic year, we ourselves advocated for internationalization. As far as practically possible, we want to continue offering articles about the rector elections in English. 

We are now entering a new phase. It will require attention not to be swept away by the framing that is already being launched, but we will try to keep the course steady. Indeed, more than ever, we will encounter hidden or overt affiliations and preferences in conversations with people at this university. Acknowledging that is a matter of honesty and transparency. But as always, we will try to see through it, even if it requires more effort. 

We will do this by providing you with sufficient context about what is at stake, by offering background on who the candidates are, by questioning the rules to which these elections are bound, and by allowing sufficient opinions to be heard about where the university should be headed. 

We will also make our voices heard in this. As a student magazine, we primarily want to ensure that the interests of the students are safeguarded in this election. We will not do this by endorsing a candidate, at any point in the election, but by taking thematic positions. In full accordance with the journalistic code of ethics, it will always be clear to you, as a reader, when factual journalism is speaking and when the journalist is. 

Furthermore, we continue to strive for objective reporting on all candidates. Truthful and without bias. We cannot promise that we will always succeed completely in this. After all, even in the choice of who is or isn't interviewed, part of the framing of an article is already determined. However, we promise to commit to questioning our own journalism. We always do this, but it is now even more important. 

In a few months, it will be up to you to choose the next rector. We hope to have provided you with enough information to make that choice thoughtfully.

Simon Tibo is the editor-in-chief. The editorial is supported by the entire editorial team.

This article was translated by use of AI and afterwards revised by our own editorial staff.