Polityka
Encyclopedia
Polityka is a centre-left weekly newsmagazine
in Poland. With a circulation of 170,000 (as of June 2006) it is the country's biggest selling weekly, ahead of Newsweek
's Polish edition and Wprost
. Today, the magazine has a slightly intellectual, social liberal
profile, setting it apart from the more conservative Wprost and the glossier approach of Newsweek Poland. Prominent editors and permanent contributors include Adam Krzemiński
, Janina Paradowska, Daniel Passent
, Ludwik Stomma, Adam Szostkiewicz, Jacek Żakowski, Ryszard Kapuściński
, Jerzy Urban
, and Krzysztof Zanussi
Since 1959 Polityka awards its History Award (for history book of the year) and since 1993 it confers annually the Paszport Polityki
awards for artists. Since late 1990s it also funds scholarships for young scientists.
Established in 1957, after the end of Polish Stalinism
, the magazine slowly developed a reputation for moderately critical journalism, promoting economical way of thinking, although always remaining within the constraints of the tightly controlled press in a communist country. Notably, Polityka was launched to replace the more radical Po prostu (1947–1957). The magazine reached reputation in 1961, printing five parts of Adolf Eichmann
's memoires, stolen by anti-Nazis and given to Polityka (the only other magazine, that acquired fragments of these memoires, was Life
). In 1983 the magazine was a subject of critics of Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for postulating political pluralism.
Its long-time editor was Mieczysław Rakowski, later the last First Secretary of communist party and the last communist prime minister of Poland, who eventually concurred with the democratic process of ending communist rule in Poland in 1989. Polityka supported talks of Round Table
in Poland, which concluded with agreement to hold free elections eventually resulting in peaceful end of the communist rule in Poland.
After the fall of communism in 1989, Polityka became part of Poland's newly free press. In 1990, Polityka team left the state-owned publisher RSW Prasa-Książka-Ruch with rights to title and established an independent cooperative
called "Polityka" - Spółdzielnia Pracy (it is a unique situation in the press market that such magazine is published by a cooperative). From 1994, editor of Polityka is Jerzy Baczyński. In 1995, the magazine changed its format from broadsheet to a standard coloured magazine, currently with over 100 pages.
. These loyalties were claimed to persist after 1989: Janina Paradowska, for example, was accused of knowing from Adam Michnik
about the corruptive proposal of Lew Rywin which eventually led to the outbreak of the so called Rywin affair
, but together with the editorial team deciding not to publicise it until Michnik did so.
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
in Poland. With a circulation of 170,000 (as of June 2006) it is the country's biggest selling weekly, ahead of Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
's Polish edition and Wprost
Wprost
Wprost is a weekly newsmagazine in Poland. It was founded on December 5, 1982 as a regional magazine in Greater Poland, but since 1989 it has been distributed nationwide. The editorial office is currently located in Warsaw. Wprost is an opinion weekly focused on politics and society. Marek Król is...
. Today, the magazine has a slightly intellectual, social liberal
Social liberalism
Social liberalism is the belief that liberalism should include social justice. It differs from classical liberalism in that it believes the legitimate role of the state includes addressing economic and social issues such as unemployment, health care, and education while simultaneously expanding...
profile, setting it apart from the more conservative Wprost and the glossier approach of Newsweek Poland. Prominent editors and permanent contributors include Adam Krzemiński
Adam Krzeminski
Adam Krzemiński is a Polish journalist and commentator, frequently featured on German television and radio, specialized in German-Polish relations and history...
, Janina Paradowska, Daniel Passent
Daniel Passent
Daniel Passent - a Polish journalist and writer. He is an author of a blog which appears as a column in a Polish weekly Polityka ....
, Ludwik Stomma, Adam Szostkiewicz, Jacek Żakowski, Ryszard Kapuściński
Ryszard Kapuscinski
Ryszard Kapuściński was a Polish journalist and writer whose dispatches in book form brought him a global reputation. Also a photographer and poet, he was born in Pińsknow in Belarusin the Kresy Wschodnie or eastern borderlands of the second Polish Republic, into poverty: he would say later that...
, Jerzy Urban
Jerzy Urban
Jerzy Urban , also known as: Jerzy Kibic, Jan Rem, Klakson born Jerzy Urbach, is a Jewish-Polish journalist, commentator, writer and politician, editor-in-chief of the weekly Nie and owner of the company which owns it, Urma.-Before 1989:Urban was born in Jewish family in Łódź. His father was an...
, and Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi, is a Polish producer and film director.He is a professor of European film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland where he conducts a summer workshop...
Since 1959 Polityka awards its History Award (for history book of the year) and since 1993 it confers annually the Paszport Polityki
Paszport Polityki
Paszport Polityki is an annual prestigious Polish award presented by the weekly magazine Polityka since 1993.It is presented in six categories: literature, film, theatre, classical music, visual arts and scene. In 2002 a new, seventh category was added: creator of culture.-External links:...
awards for artists. Since late 1990s it also funds scholarships for young scientists.
Established in 1957, after the end of Polish Stalinism
Stalinism
Stalinism refers to the ideology that Joseph Stalin conceived and implemented in the Soviet Union, and is generally considered a branch of Marxist–Leninist ideology but considered by some historians to be a significant deviation from this philosophy...
, the magazine slowly developed a reputation for moderately critical journalism, promoting economical way of thinking, although always remaining within the constraints of the tightly controlled press in a communist country. Notably, Polityka was launched to replace the more radical Po prostu (1947–1957). The magazine reached reputation in 1961, printing five parts of Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
's memoires, stolen by anti-Nazis and given to Polityka (the only other magazine, that acquired fragments of these memoires, was Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
). In 1983 the magazine was a subject of critics of Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for postulating political pluralism.
Its long-time editor was Mieczysław Rakowski, later the last First Secretary of communist party and the last communist prime minister of Poland, who eventually concurred with the democratic process of ending communist rule in Poland in 1989. Polityka supported talks of Round Table
Polish Round Table Agreement
The Polish Round Table Talks took place in Warsaw, Poland from February 6 to April 4, 1989. The government initiated the discussion with the banned trade union Solidarność and other opposition groups in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest.-History:...
in Poland, which concluded with agreement to hold free elections eventually resulting in peaceful end of the communist rule in Poland.
After the fall of communism in 1989, Polityka became part of Poland's newly free press. In 1990, Polityka team left the state-owned publisher RSW Prasa-Książka-Ruch with rights to title and established an independent cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
called "Polityka" - Spółdzielnia Pracy (it is a unique situation in the press market that such magazine is published by a cooperative). From 1994, editor of Polityka is Jerzy Baczyński. In 1995, the magazine changed its format from broadsheet to a standard coloured magazine, currently with over 100 pages.
Criticism
Polityka is sometimes accused of showing a neo-communist and leftist bias in their articles, as many of their leading editors served communist regimePeople's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. These loyalties were claimed to persist after 1989: Janina Paradowska, for example, was accused of knowing from Adam Michnik
Adam Michnik
Adam Michnik is the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, where he sometimes writes under the pen-names of Andrzej Zagozda or Andrzej Jagodziński. In 1966–1989 he was one of the leading organizers of the illegal, democratic opposition in Poland...
about the corruptive proposal of Lew Rywin which eventually led to the outbreak of the so called Rywin affair
Rywin affair
The Rywin affair was a corruption scandal in Poland, which began in late 2002 while the post communist government of the SLD was in power...
, but together with the editorial team deciding not to publicise it until Michnik did so.