How Much Filtering Horrors Matters: Trauma Finds a Way
A recent opinion piece published in the Belgian newspaper De Standaard, penned by columnist Peter Vandermeersch, grapples with the challenge of filtering out horrific imagery and news from global conflicts while acknowledging the inevitability of its intrusion into public consciousness. The article, titled “Hoe graag ik de gruwel ook wegfilter, hij vindt toch zijn weg” (How much I’d like to filter out the horror, it still finds its way), reflects a broader struggle for media outlets to balance responsible reporting with the potential for desensitization, and trauma.
De Standaard, founded in 1918 as a Catholic and conservative publication, has evolved significantly over the decades. Originally associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, the newspaper has since renounced its ideological ties, according to information from Wikipedia. Today, it is published by Mediahuis, a Belgian media company, and maintains a circulation of approximately 98,000 as of 2009.
Vandermeersch’s piece doesn’t focus on a specific event but rather on the inherent difficulty of shielding audiences from the realities of war and suffering. The column acknowledges the desire to curate a news experience that minimizes exposure to graphic content, yet concedes that such efforts are ultimately futile. The article implicitly questions the role of the media in presenting – or withholding – disturbing information.
De Standaard’s own history reflects a shift in perspective. Initially established as the successor to the Catholic weekly Ons Volk ontwaakt (Our People Awakes), the newspaper once played a prominent role in the Flemish nationalist movement. Though, under previous editorship, it transitioned to a more liberal outlook and adopted a modern layout, as noted by eurotopics.net. This evolution suggests a willingness to adapt to changing societal values and journalistic standards.
The newspaper maintains an active presence on social media, with over 352,000 likes on its official Facebook page, indicating a substantial online readership. Mediahuis, the parent company, describes De Standaard as a daily newspaper that provides facts, numbers, insights, and stories with a wider perspective and a critical approach. The company’s website highlights the paper’s commitment to covering “the most important questions and changes in the world.”
As of April 1, 2026, Mediahuis has not issued a public response to Vandermeersch’s column, and no further commentary from De Standaard regarding the piece has been released.