Journalist Marieke Verbiesen has been appointed by TU/e as the new editor-in-chief of Cursor, effective March 1. Verbiesen succeeds interim editor-in-chief Roy op het Veld, who led the renewal of Cursor over the last year. Her appointment is the final piece of this renewal.
Verbiesen (1976) previously worked as editor-in-chief, coordinator and independent journalist at various media, including Nieuwe Oogst and the Eindhovens Dagblad. Since 2022, she has worked at the independent news platform Bron of Fontys University of Applied Sciences.
Patrick Groothuis, vice-president of the Executive Board: "We are very pleased with Marieke’s arrival and her valuable journalistic and leadership qualities. We are convinced that, together with the Cursor editors, she can further deepen Cursor’s newly set course. We think that’s important because Cursor has an essential function in our community."
Marieke Verbiesen: "An independent university press is essential within the academic debate. In a short time, Roy has laid a solid foundation for the editorial team. This provides an excellent basis for further building professional and independent journalism within TU/e. My goal is to be at the forefront of the news with Cursor and to be an indispensable source of information. I am very much looking forward to working on this together with the editors."
TU/e has been working on the renewal of Cursor since the end of 2023, after the editors blacked out the Cursor website in protest. Interim editor-in-chief Roy op het Veld has drawn up an improvement plan with a new editorial vision and a new formula. In addition, a new editorial statute was introduced, which provides an improved basis for Cursor’s functioning, aimed at a structurally improved and future-proof Cursor, with solid guarantees for journalistic independence. As a result, a new editorial board has been set up, with solid journalistic expertise, and a new editor-in-chief is now taking office.
Verbiesen is the successor to Roy op het Veld, who took office at the end of 2023. Groothuis: "We would like to thank Roy. He provided the basis for the necessary changes around Cursor last year and has worked very hard on that with the entire Cursor editorial team."