Chapter 7
In: Protestant Periodicals in Transition
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Abstract
In this chapter the focus is on the exceptional history of the Nederlands Dagblad (ND). The ND transformed from a strictly denominational magazine to an ecumenical newspaper. In the second half of the twentieth century, the ND was one of many religious media that appeared in the Netherlands. Most of these media disassociated themselves with their confessional identities in the second half of the twentieth century. However, the ND stuck to a religious identity. This is striking as this medium was the product of a Church schism that had taken place in 1944. The editors’ initial goal was to report on this unfolding church conflict in a time in which information was scarce. Yet, simultaneously they aimed to reach a national audience. The strictly Reformed (Liberated) character, however, was not attractive to others. So paradoxically, as a result of their desire to reach others, the editors of the ND changed the message of their medium. By constantly debating the tension between their identity and their audience, the ND transformed into an ecumenical medium which has its own place within the Dutch media landscape today.