THE HAGUE, 06/09/08 - Public broadcaster NPS is producing a new television programme with the objective of giving the Dutch population a positive view of Muslims and other minority groups.

The title of the feel-good show is Dichtbij Nederland (Close to the Netherlands). It will be a light news and infotainment programme aimed at young Moroccans, Turks, Surinamese and Antilleans, which gives a picture of life in their parents' countries.

The NPS hopes that the programme "will generate more positive ideas about new population groups in the Netherlands and their countries of origin" and "draw more attention to social cohesion and increasing mutual understanding." The NPS refers to this as a "unique and large-scale media project that aims to create shared experiences".

If everything runs according to plan, Dichtbij Nederland will be shown on the Nederland 1 channel from January. It is not yet known who will present the show.

NPS was criticised during the past week because of a live programme about the American elections, in which the presenters praised Barack Obama for four days in an extremely biased manner from the Democratic Convention in Denver. NOS chief editor Hans Laroes lashed out fiercely at the NPS and pointed out that the two public broadcasters should not be confused.