Recently becoming the host of the journalistic podcast NRC Vandaag, Bram Endedijk embarks on a new step in his diverse career. Creating television, documentaries, investigative articles, Bram emphasizes that for him, form follows facts. A good story always comes first.
By Matthijs Touw
Getting in touch was easy, Bram answered the interview request in seconds. However, finding personal details about him online is more difficult. “no idea why actually” he replies when asked to explain.
Throughout Bram’s career – a word he laughs about during the interview – he worked with many media forms. His second internship during his studies was for television. “I had done a newspaper and liked to discover the world of television.” The broadcaster PowNed was just three months old and its mission to experiment and rebel against the status quo allowed for much experimentation. Reflecting, Bram recalls the demanding culture: “We had to bring three original ideas for short segments every morning.” Condensing stories quickly into one-minute segments sharpened his skills. “you have to throw away a lot”, “it taught me to make decisions quickly, and what is important.”
Bram Endedijk (35):
- Writes (cross border) investigative stories on crime, justice and marginalized civilians.
- Wrote two books about the criminal underworld.
- Directed two documentaries Oorlogskinderen (2020), Kinderen van Zwarte Bevrijders (2022)and the series De zaak van je leven (2017-2020).
- Hosts the podcast NRC Vandaag (2025)
The Story
Engaging with many media formats, does Bram have a favorite? “No, telling a good story remains the core. You can tell a story in many forms, but it remains more important what the story is than how you tell it”, he states definitively. However, having created documentaries, TV segments, written articles, podcasts, and books, Bram is certain this variety made him a better journalist. “You learn to really focus on the core of the story, beyond the form of expression.”
These days, long-format stories are his focus. “I have seen most sides of journalism. But I noticed slowly that I often end up in the longer investigative stories.” During the interview, it becomes clear that ‘the story’ is what is most important for Bram.
Bram is clear about killing investigations. “In my experience, if you think there is a story in something, nearly always there is one.” “Even if it is not the story you expect, you will find something else.”
The Audience
After publication, a journalist’s influence on the public discourse about the story is limited. Bram argues “It is subjective, when is a story important? When is it good? It’s up to the reader.” But the landscape changed since he started. Frustrated he discusses developments in media trust. “Even people who don’t follow Trump, are starting to believe the media – whatever that may be – have an agenda”, adding, “that is just not how it is”.
While difficult, Bram thinks about solutions to rebuild trust. In the podcast, he mentions the importance of informing people about the investigative process. In the interview he nuances: “We are wrestling with it, we don’t like to talk about ourselves too much, we would like to focus on revealing what is happening or what people don’t know yet”, “That is the core of our profession.”
The Profession
Despite pressure on the profession, Bram is hopeful. Young people going into journalism enforce his belief that the field remains important “no matter how young you are, if you have a story that can for example topple government, you can do that” “no one will say: ‘but you just started’. No, you have your story!”
Bram’s limited online presence reflects his focus on stories rather than himself. “This is very important, and the most fun in the world. I don’t feel like I am working ever.” He reflects. Talking with Bram certainly is contagious. Excitement about stories, the future of journalism and becoming part of it has surely captured me.