Bruzz
{{Short description|Belgian non-profit media company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = {{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}}
| logo_caption =
| logo_upright =
| logo_alt =
| trading_name = Bruzz
| native_name_lang = nl
| type =
| industry = Media industry
| predecessor = {{Unbulleted list|Brussel Deze Week|FM Brussel|Niet-openbare Regionale Televisievereniging Brussel}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|2014|03|10}}
| founders = {{Unbulleted list| Luc Demullier| Lydia Desloover| Ruben Goots| Stefanie Gryson| Simon Horsten| Marc Moerman| David Steegen| Jos Van Campenhout| Kristel Vandenbrande}}
| hq_location = Flagey Building
| hq_location_city = Ixelles
| hq_location_country = Belgium
| area_served = Brussels-Capital Region
| key_people =
| products = {{Unbulleted list|Bruzz radio|Bruzz Ice|Bruzz televisie|Bruzz.be|Bruzz Ket|Bruzz magazine|Bruzz culture}}
| website = {{URL|bruzz.be}}
}}
{{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}} (Flemish-Brussels Media), shortened to VBM and operating under the brand Bruzz (stylised in all caps) is a non-profit media company dedicated to serving the Flemish Community in Brussels. A counterpart to {{lang|fr|BX1}}, which caters to the French-speaking Community in Brussels, Bruzz has its headquarters located at the Radio House in Ixelles.
History
= 1970–2014: Early years and pre-merger developments =
Bruzz's origins can be traced to the monthly local newspaper {{lang|nl|Deze Maand in Brussel}}, which was founded in the 1970s by the {{lang|nl|Nederlandse Commissie voor de Cultuur van de Brusselse Agglomeratieraad}} with the aim of creating a Dutch-language newspaper for the residents of the Brussels Agglomeration. 1985, it underwent a name change to {{lang|nl|Deze Week in Brussel}}.
On 15 September 1993 the television channel {{lang|nl|TV-Brussel}} was inaugurated from the Royal Flemish Theatre.
In 1998, {{lang|nl|Deze Week in Brussel}} underwent another name change, becoming {{lang|nl|Brussel Deze Week}}, with Dirk Volckaerts assuming the role of editor-in-chief.
In 2002 a trilingual cultural supplement, initially named {{lang|nl|AGENDA}} and later {{lang|nl|Agenda Magazine}}, was introduced to {{lang|nl|Brussel Deze Week}}.
On 26 February 2000, {{lang|nl|FM BSSL}} was launched as a student radio affiliated with RITCS. On 19 December 2003 the station received a 9-year license and, in May 2004, rebranded as {{lang|nl|FM Brussel}}.
In 2004, {{lang|nl|Brussel Deze Week}} expanded its reach by establishing the online news platform {{lang|nl|brusselnieuws.be}}, which also integrated content from {{lang|nl|TV-Brussel}} and {{lang|nl|FM Brussels}}. In 2008, Anne Brumagne assumed the role of editor-in-chief, and the newspaper underwent another transformation, being renamed {{lang|nl|BDW}}.{{Cite web |title=BDW Opinie: Brussel Deze Week wordt BDW |url=https://www.bruzz.be/politiek/bdw-opinie-brussel-deze-week-wordt-bdw-2008-12-03 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.bruzz.be |language=nl}}
= 2014–present: Post-merger period =
On 10 March 2014 the entities governing {{lang|nl|brusselnieuws.be}}, {{lang|nl|tvbrussel}}, {{lang|nl|FM Brussel}}, {{lang|nl|Agenda Magazine}} and {{lang|nl|BDW}} merged to create {{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}}, headquartered in the historic Radio House in Ixelles. The new organization focused on producing web, radio and television content.{{Cite news|date=14 October 2015 |title=Vlaams-Brusselse Media renamed Bruzz |author=Alan Hope |website=Flanders Today |url=http://www.flanderstoday.eu/current-affairs/vlaams-brusselse-media-renamed-bruzz}}{{Cite news|title=Vlaams-Brusselse Media vervellen tot 'Bruzz': "Eén grote, centrale en digitale redactie" |date=13 October 2015 |newspaper=Het Laatste Nieuws |agency=Belga |url=https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/vlaams-brusselse-media-vervellen-tot-bruzz-een-grote-centrale-en-digitale-redactie~a8c61f76/}} Subsequently, on 13 October 2015, the Board of Directors of {{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}} announced a reorganization, prompted by a turbulent period after the previous CEO's announcement of resignations and the closure of {{lang|nl|FM Brussels}}.{{Cite web |title=Vlaams-Brusselse media heten binnenkort Bruzz |url=https://www.bruzz.be/samenleving/vlaams-brusselse-media-heten-binnenkort-bruzz-2015-10-13 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.bruzz.be |language=nl}}
On 20 April 2016, {{lang|nl|brusselnieuws.be}}, {{lang|nl|Tvbrussel}}, {{lang|nl|FM Brussels}}, {{lang|nl|Agenda Magazine}} and {{lang|nl|BDW}} ceased to exist as separate entities, giving way to the emergence of the cross-media brand Bruzz with a unified editorial team.{{Cite web|title=FM Brussel and Agenda relaunch as Bruzz |author=Alan Hope |date=20 April 2016 |website=Flanders Today |url=http://www.flanderstoday.eu/current-affairs/fm-brussel-and-agenda-relaunch-bruzz}}{{Cite web |last=NWS |first=VRT |date=2015-10-12 |title=Vlaams-Brusselse Media worden "Bruzz" |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2015/10/12/vlaams-brusselsemediawordenbruzz-1-2467242/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=vrtnws.be |language=nl}}{{Cite web |title=Bruzz krijgt één grote, centrale en digitale redactie |url=https://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20151013_01916801 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Gazet van Antwerpen |language=nl-BE}}
In 2018 {{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}} collaborated with {{lang|nl|Onderwijscentrum Brussel}} (OCB) to launch Bruzz Ket, a digital platform for children and youth. It targets Dutch-speaking and multilingual young people aged 9 to 13 in Brussels.
On 19 April 2022 {{lang|nl|Vlaams-Brusselse Media}} introduced Bruzz Ice a digital radio station.{{Cite web |title=Hier is Bruzz ICE: een digitaal radiostation en label voor jong Brussel |url=https://www.bruzz.be/culture/bruzz-ice/hier-bruzz-ice-een-digitaal-radiostation-en-label-voor-jong-brussel-2022-04-19 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=www.bruzz.be |language=nl}}
Editors-in-chief
References
{{Reflist}}