Kurier Wileński
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Kurier Wileński (Courier of Wilno) is the main Polish language Lithuanian newspaper, printed in Vilnius, and the only Polish language daily newspaper published east of Poland. A direct descendant of both the 19th century newspaper of the same name and the Czerwony Sztandar newspaper, sponsored by the Soviet authorities since 1953 and thought as a means of Sovietization of the Polish diaspora left in the Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union. Currently the newspaper is a member of the European Association of Daily Newspapers in Minority and Regional Languages (MIDAS) and is read by approximately 6,3% of inhabitants of the city of Wilno, as well as 13,6% of the inhabitants of the area.
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[edit] Early history
The newspaper was first founded under the name of Kurier Litewski in 1796 in Grodno. The following year it moved to Wilno, where it became one of the principal sources of information for the local population. It was one of the important factor polonising local Lithuanians. After the November Uprising, in 1834, the newspaper was ordered to prepare a Russian language version as well, and served the role of the official newspaper of the Russian authorities. However, it also fulfilled an important role in countering the Russification of local Poles.
In 1840 the newspaper was renamed to Kurier Wileński and started to attract many of the most notable Polish writers and journalists of the epoch as one of the very few relatively free newspapers in the lands ruled by Imperial Russia. Among them was Władysław Syrokomla and Antoni Odyniec. The newspaper was closed down and banned in 1863, in the effect of the Russian reprisals after the January Uprising.
It was reactivated under the title of Kurier Litewski in 1905, after the Revolution of 1905. Headed by Eliza Orzeszkowa, it promoted Polish literature and culture, for which it was closed down several times by the tsarist authorities. The title remained until the outbreak of World War I and the German occupation of Wilno in 1915.
During the interbellum the Polish press was no longer persecuted by the local authorities and the title was continued as one of several newspapers, the most important local newspapers being Słowo (headed by Stanisław Cat Mackiewicz), Robotnik Wileński and Express Wileński. Altogether, there were 114 newspapers published in Wilno in late 1930's, among them 17 dailies. 74 titles were being published in the Polish language, 16 in Yiddish and Hebrew, 12 in Belarusian, 9 in Lithuanian and 3 in Russian.
After the outbreak of the Invasion of Poland of 1939 and the Soviet annexation of Wilno, Kurier Wileński, as it was called back then, was closed down (the last issue was dated September 18, 1939). The only newspaper that was allowed by the soviet authorities was Belarusian language Vilenskaya Prauda.
After the city was transfered back to Lithuania, Kurier Wileński was allowed to be published, this time under heavy control of the Lithuanian authorities and censorship. It was again closed down after the city was annexed by the Soviet Union and its role was taken over by roughly 73 underground newspapers published in the city during the rest of World War II.
[edit] "Czerwony Sztandar"
After the war most of the local inhabitants of Vilnius chose to leave for Poland. However, minority was left in place, mostly in the areas around the city. That is why on July 1, 1953 a Polish language newspaper Czerwony Sztandar (Red Banner) started to be published. Initially run by Jews and Russians, it was seen as one of the means of Sovietization of the remaining Poles. After 1956 most of the Jews of Vilnius left for Israel and the newspaper continued as a almost purely Russian-run newspaper for Poles.
However, in 1961 the Leonid Romanowicz became the new editor in chief. Although a Russian himself, Romanowicz was fascinated with the Polish culture and started to attract many notable journalists and writers. He also promoted the newspaper and it become the only daily newspaper in Polish language available to many Poles in the Soviet Union. With time the staff was polonised and in 1982, Stanisław Jakutis became the new editor in chief.
[edit] Modern history
In 1987 Stanisław Jakutis was replaced with Zbigniew Balcewicz, who at the time of Lithuanian rebirth in 1990 renamed the newspaper to Kurier Wileński, to underline the traditions. During the Perestroika and the dissolution of the USSR, Czerwony Sztandar and, later, Kurier WIleński led numerous social campaigns. Among the most important deeds was campaign for preservation of the Rossa Cemetery (which was planned to be demolished) and support for creation of Polish kindergardens to prevent the growing Lithuanization of Polish children. In 1995 the newspaper was privatized and in 2000 it was bought by Vilnijos Žodis company.
