Dutch media: pillarization, multiculturalism, and cross-culturalism

‘Media and culture’ has been always a topic of interest and study, not only for scholars, but for policy makers and the general public as well. The topic is very broad. It includes defending cultural autonomy in face of the influences of globalized media, in addition to using media as a tool for preserving multiculturalism in societies and for integrating minorities. This paper explores the media system of the Netherlands (the Low Countries), also known as Holland, through the phenomenon of ‘pillarization’ in the media and its development towards ‘multiculturalism’ and ‘cross-culturalism’. Furthermore, it sheds light on the influence of these developments on minorities in the Netherlands