Delta journalists win ‘Kring Award’ for article on power structures at TU Delft

A journalism prize for Delta journalists Marjolein van der Veldt and Annebelle de Bruijn. With their article on the inadequate support structures at TU Delft, they won the Kring Award for the best background article on Thursday. This award is presented annually by De Kring, the national association of higher education media in the Netherlands, during its annual conference. The categories are selected by the editors-in-chief, and the winner is determined by an independent jury.

In their October 2024 article, De Bruijn and Van der Veldt reveal that TU Delft’s support structures are not set up to properly assist victims of social unsafety. Based on interviews with 24 victims, they show that those who seek help often end up worse. At all levels — ranging from supervisors to HR — staff reported feeling abandoned. The article shows that the system is designed to act in the interests of TU Delft, at the expense of individuals.

The article elicited shocked reactions, both within TU Delft and beyond. In a press release, the CNV Education trade union stated: “Hierarchical management, a controlling mindset, and cronyism prevail at all levels of the organization. Critical voices are not tolerated, and those who dare speak out are silenced, obstructed, or worse.” In a letter (in Dutch) to Education Minister Eppo Bruins, the union demanded the resignation of TU Delft’s Executive Board. The minister, in turn, pointed to the responsibility of the university’s highest governing bodies.

Powerful narrative voice

“Fortunately, there were journalists nearby to bring this to light.” So wrote jury members Coen van de Ven (De Groene Amsterdammer), Joep Dohmen (NRC), and Laura Bergshoef (NRC) about the winning article. They praised the authors for their ‘powerful narrative voice’. According to the jury, the article is a ‘brilliantly told structural story about how social unsafety works. “They describe it like no one else and are not afraid to take the reader by the hand and guide them through a world of fear.”

The jury noted in its report that choosing Delta’s piece was not an easy decision. Also in the top four were: a story by Ad Valvas (Vrije Universiteit) about a senior lecturer being pushed out of the criminal law department; an article by Cursor (TU Eindhoven) on ties with high-risk universities in China; and a story by DUB (Utrecht University) about the sudden emergence of a far-right voice in the faculty council. A special encouragement award went to the upcoming documentary Gen Sax (in Dutch), for which the editorial team of SaxNow (Saxion University of Applied Sciences) will follow a group of students for five years.

Best column

The award for Best Column went to Adriaan Duiveman (Vox). His column (in Dutch) titled ‘We Need Contrary Academics – Who Don’t Go Off the Rails’ stood out in style, sharpness, and perspective, according to the jury consisting of Eva Hoeke, Marijke Kolk, and Remco Kock. Second place went to Onnie Gieszen (‘Plug in the Droomvlucht, Erasmus Magazine), and third place was shared by Jacob Eikelboom (‘Sometimes I Feel Like I’m Teaching in a Circus’, HvanA, in Dutch) and Frank Futselaar (‘Side Incomes’, SaxNow, in Dutch).

Romain Beker won the award for Best Visual. The Folia photographer (University of Amsterdam) captured an image in March 2025 of a UvA alumna returning her diploma in protest against UvA’s Israel policy, as she spoke with a pro-Palestinian demonstrator. The photo was chosen by editors of the higher education media during the Kring Congress as the winning image.

At last year’s 2024 edition of the Kring Awards, Delta took home two prizes. Saskia Bonger won Best Feature Article for her revealing piece on the enforced culture of silence at the Innovation & Impact Centre. That article was also nominated for De Tegel, the most prestigious national journalism award. The Kring Award for best interview went to Delta editor Kim Bakker for her interview with the resigned planetary scientist Daphne Stam. In 2021, Delta was also nominated for De Tegel and won the Kring Award. This was for a series of articles about the ties between TU Delft and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.