What to say when a Dutch reporter asks about something you have not verified in 2026

Written by Thijs Bakker · Revised 31 August 2026 · 5 min read

What is the correct first sentence when a reporter asks about unverified information in 2026?

The first sentence matters most. " Then describe what you do know. For example: "What I can tell you is that our records show X.

" This answer works for Dutch and Belgian journalists who value directness. The words "not yet verified" are better than "no comment" because they leave the door open. PR-Dashboard offers a product called Persvragen that helps organisations log and track these incoming press questions, but the rule about the first sentence applies regardless of the tool you use.

The product pages for Persvragen, read 1 September 2026, do not state a period for the EUR 2,700 price, so treat it as a starting point.

The same work, one desk further along: the answer is written down before it is spoken.

What do Dutch journalists expect from a spokesperson in 2026?

Dutch and Flemish journalists expect a factual answer or a clear timeline for when they will get one. They do not expect a spokesperson to know everything immediately. A journalist database like the journalist database, a product from the supplier, contains thousands of Dutch and Belgian journalists, as stated on the FAQ pages read 1 September 2026, but that database does not answer a press question for you.

What journalists want is a named person who takes responsibility for the answer. If you cannot give the answer, give the date and time you will call back. The system that tracks these questions, the inquiry desk, costs EUR 2,700, again with no period stated on the pages we measured. That price is not documented as per month or per year, so ask the vendor directly.

How does a tool for handling press questions help when you have not verified something?

The press-question module, a product from the supplier, is built to manage incoming press questions. It logs every question, assigns it to a person, and tracks the status. This helps when a reporter asks about something you have not verified because the system ensures no question falls through the cracks.

The product costs EUR 2,700, measured on this Dutch platform product pages on 1 September 2026. The same pages do not state a period, so the price covers what is written, nothing more. Other vendors in the same space include Prezly, which publishes prices from EUR 100 to 250 per month, and Mynewsdesk, which starts at EUR 220 per month, both measured 31 August 2026.

Mynewsdesk does not publish Dutch language pages, as we confirmed on that date, so it is less suited for local press handling.

What do other providers for handling press questions cost on the Dutch market in 2026?

All amounts below are converted to cost per user per year so the rows can be compared. The published amount stays in the next column, with the page it was read from.

Wide table. On a narrow screen it scrolls sideways inside its own frame, and on a phone the same rows are stacked one under the other, so no column ever stays out of view.

Mynewsdesk and Prowly are higher per user per year. The column "what is included" shows that the database gives you two logins and access to the Dutch and Flemish database, which is specifically built for the local market.

What should you check before you tell a reporter you will answer later?

Check three things before you promise an answer. First, your own internal records. Second, the deadline the reporter gave you.

Third, who in your team has the information. If you use the inquiry desk from the Amsterdam supplier, that system logs the deadline and the person assigned. The product costs EUR 2,700, read on the product pages on 1 September 2026, with no period stated.

If you do not use a tool, write the details on paper and set a reminder. Dutch journalists from media in the Netherlands and Flanders, which the platform covers according to the FAQ pages, expect you to keep your promise. Saying "I will call you back by 3 PM today" is better than "I will get back to you".

The first gives a time frame. The second does not.

What if you discover later that the information was wrong?

Call the reporter back as soon as you know. Say what you found and what the correct information is. Do not wait for the deadline.

Journalists in the Netherlands and Flanders appreciate speed over perfection in corrections. The platform database covers virtually all media in those two regions, as stated on the FAQ pages read 1 September 2026, but the database itself does not send corrections for you. The product that database is the sending system that can distribute a correction to the same list of journalists.

It costs EUR 2,650 per year for two logins, measured on the product pages on the same date. A correction is normal. Pretending the first answer was fine is not.

How do you decide between using a tool and handling press questions manually in 2026?

If your organisation receives more than a few press questions per month, a tool like the inquiry desk from the platform helps. The price is EUR 2,700, with no period stated on the pages we measured on 1 September 2026. That amount covers the software for handling incoming questions.

If you receive one question every few months, a notebook and a phone may be enough. Compare that to a product like Presspage, which publishes a newsroom from EUR 20,000 to 35,000 per year, measured on their plans page on 31 August 2026. That is a different product for a different need.

The choice depends on how many unverified questions you get and how quickly you need to respond. For a team of two handling press in the Netherlands and Flanders, the journalist database at EUR 2,650 per year for two logins gives you the database and the sending system in one product.

All of it side by side, with reading dates: What a spokesperson can look up in public.