De Standaard
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox newspaper
Template:Lang (Template:IPA, Template:Lit) is a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Mediahuis (formerly Corelio and VUM). It was traditionally a Christian-Democratic paper, associated with the Christian-Democratic and Flemish Party, and in opposition to the Socialist Flemish daily De Morgen. In recent years Template:Lang has renounced its original ideological ties.
History and profile
In 1911, Frans Van Cauwelaert founded Ons Volk Ontwaakt, the weekly journal of the Flemish Catholic student organization.
In 1914, Van Cauwelaert, Alfons Van de Perre, and Arnold Hendrix formed a publishing company, De Standaard N.V. ("The Standard, Incorporated": the Standard Group).Template:Citation needed Their goal was to publish a conservative, Catholic, Flemish daily newspaper in Brussels, to be called Template:Lang. The motto of Template:Lang was Alles voor Vlaanderen - Vlaanderen voor Kristus ("Everything for Flanders - Flanders for Christ"), abbreviated AVV-VVK. AVV-VVK appeared in Template:Lang's front-page banner until 1999. The first edition was to appear on 22 November 1914, but publication was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I. Template:Lang did not appear until 4 December 1918,<ref name=ess>Template:Cite web</ref> after the war ended. Gustave Sap, who joined the board of directors in 1919, provided the necessary capital for its initial expansion.Template:Citation needed The paper was started as a conservative daily with Catholic values.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1940, during the Second World War, Belgium was occupied by Nazi Germany. Template:Lang again ceased publication. However, a new paper, Het Algemeen Nieuws ("The General News") was published with Template:Lang's staff and presses,Template:Citation needed printing only what the Nazi occupation government permitted. After the liberation of Belgium in 1944, the management of Standard Group was accused of collaboration with the Nazi occupiers, and the company was banned for two years. A new company was therefore created: De Gids N.V. ("The Guide, Inc."), which began publishing De Nieuwe Standaard ("The New Standard") in November 1944. Older titles of the Standaard group were also continued by De Gids.Template:Citation needed
In 1947, the ban on Standard Group was removed, and with court permission the company reclaimed all its titles. De Nieuwe Standaard was immediately renamed De Nieuwe Gids, and then, as of 1 May, Template:Lang again.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Template:Lang was famous for its high-quality and independent foreign affairs coverage. For example, despite its Catholic and conservative ties,<ref name=piet/> Template:Lang was critical of American policy in southeast Asia.
However, the financial condition of Standard Group deteriorated, becoming critical in 1976. Standard Group declared bankruptcy on 22 June. Template:Lang was rescued by André Leysen, a Belgian businessman, who formed Vlaamse Uitgeversmaatschappij N.V. (VUM - "Flemish Publishers Partnership"). VUM took over Standard Group's titles, and became the publisher of Template:Lang. VUM changed its name to Corelio in 2006. The sister newspaper of Template:Lang is Template:Lang.<ref name=piet>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Since 30 September 1999 the newspaper has stopped printing the lettercross AVV-VVK on its frontpage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2004, Template:Lang changed its format from traditional broadsheet to compact format.<ref name=srep>Template:Cite journal</ref> Unlike common practice for most of the newspapers this change occurred during its modernization process, not as a response to low circulation levels.<ref name=srep/>
On 9 January 2017 Template:Lang fired its controversial columnist, Dyab Abou Jahjah, after the latter made comments on Twitter that condoned the 2017 Jerusalem truck attack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Circulation
In 2002 Template:Lang had a circulation of 98,169 copies.<ref name="KellyMazzoleni2003">Template:Cite book</ref> The circulation of the paper was also reported to be 93,500 copies in 2002.<ref name=ward>Template:Cite web</ref> The paper had a circulation of 79,000 copies in 2003<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 81,000 copies in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The circulation of the paper was 102,280 copies in 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the first quarter of 2009 the paper had a circulation of 107,888 copies.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2009 its paid circulation was about 98,000 copies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable journalists
- Gaston Durnez
- Maria Rosseels (1916–2005), film critic and writer