#citizenjournalism How your video goes viral and almost lands you in court
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The animals may look cute and cuddly in the adverts
In reality they’re anything but. So visitors are forbidden from getting out of their car during the safari.
Reclame Safari Resort Beekse Bergen. Source: Youtube
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Thankfully it ends well. Once he recovers from the shock, Robin puts his eyewitness account on social media. The video soon goes viral.
The phone hasn’t stopped ringing, I keep getting Facebook messages and my mailbox is full. Does anyone have a large stone I can crawl under?
The press is pushing to speak with the person who made the video. Robin is suddenly famous.
Source: https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/105667/Iedereen-wil-alles-weten-van-Robin-de-filmer-van-het-incident-in-Beekse-Bergen
Robin’s approach has received growing criticism on social media.
Tjeerd Posthuma reacts on Twitter, 11-05-2018. Source: Twitter
Nonsense says lawyer Jens van de Brink
He thinks Robin is blameless. The lawyer can imagine that the boys didn't know what to do. Plus the fact that they simply couldn’t do very much without putting themselves in danger.
Jens van den Brink on Dit is de dag, 15-05-2018. Source: NPO Radio 1.
The courts refuse to give an opinion on Robin's approach
But say they are happy so many people have watched the images. “Now everyone has been able to see what happens if you decide to have a picnic among the cheetahs. The video will prevent this from happening again, which we believe is very important."
Frans gezin in safaripark Beekse Bergen heeft echt veel geluk. Camera: Robin de Graaf. Source: Youtube
Think first, act later
Less than a month later no one is talking about the French family at Beekse Bergen anymore. The media circus moves on. Peace descends on Scharendijke again. And Robin? Now he thinks twice before putting a video online.
Still from Robin interviewed on Omroep Zeeland, 11-05-2018. Source: Omroep Zeeland.
