“J

ust the facts” is probably one of the most famous journalistic claims. But it is also misleading. Naturally, as a journalist and a news brand, it’s essential to have the facts clearly laid out.

But it doesn’t stop there. If emotions are such a big part of everything we do, why should we pretend they have no place in the news? Alongside the facts, they are essential to truly under­standing what’s happening. That includes both the emotions driving key players – what compels Vladimir Putin to threaten Europe? – and the emotions stirred by the news. Continuing with the same example – should I truly be worried that the Russian president will follow through on his threats?

Vulnerable

This is what we mean at HLN when we say we are the “heartbeat of Flanders”. We go beyond the facts to bring you the stories that move you, make you proud, make you laugh, and touch you. I want HLN to be an emotional news brand. Just as we carefully analyse the facts, we also examine the emotions: why does the news affect us the way it does? We do this with both head and heart – because only then can we fully grasp what’s really going on.

At the same time, it is also what makes HLN vulnerable. If getting the facts right is already a challenge, navigating the emotional layer is even more complex. We give them plenty of attention, but we don’t want to magnify them at HLN. The latter is what tabloid newspapers do: they amplify those emotions, turning them into something much larger than they really are. This doesn’t create genuine impact; it’s sensationalism – a line we are determined never to cross on this editorial board. And yet, as an editor-in-chief, you often feel how a single image or word can easily push you across that line.

Concern

One of the most notable examples occurred in January, when we featured the headline: “What if Russia really attacks a NATO country? Will tanks also drive through Belgium? And should civilians prepare for war? 11 questions answered”. I still defend the article’s approach. When Putin repeatedly threatens the use of nuclear weapons, our capital hosts NATO’s headquarters, and military leaders caution that we should brace for a broader conflict, it becomes a question that demands editorial attention. We also saw – reflected in reader responses – that it was a concern very much on people’s minds.

Balance

I believe we almost have a social role to play by daring to name and explore those emotions. When people feel that certain issues are left unspoken, that’s when things truly begin to fester. Our mistake was placing all the emphasis on fear in the headline, introduction, and visuals. Some stories need a strong image to grab the readers’ attention.

But this ‘what if’ question is already so weighty that the last thing we need is another spark thrown into the powder keg. One reassuring sentence in the introduction – “all the experts we spoke to consider the risk rather small that the Russian president will really make good on his threats” – would have made a world of difference. We want to be the heartbeat of Flanders by capturing it, not by driving it upwards.

To further complicate matters, an article does not stand alone. If, at the same time such an analysis goes online, HLN also features several stories about the threat of war, it only intensifies that unsettling feeling. To help us navigate that complex balance more closely throughout the day, HLN introduced a new feature in 2025. The chief HLN home ensures that the interplay between titles, introductions, photos and graphics is correct at all times. They safeguard the soul of HLN, ensuring that the heartbeat of Flanders continues to resonate in everything we do.