Chapter 3
On Censorial Interferences and the Games Played with Censors in Tygodnik Powszechny between 1945 and 1953
In: Politics and the Media in Poland from the 19th to the 21st CenturiesSearch for other papers by Małgorzata Strzelecka in
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Abstract
Cognitive value: Tygodnik Powszechny is a Catholic socio-cultural periodical, published in Poland since 1945. The decision to establish a newspaper with the intention of presenting views at variance with the Marxist officially propagated doctrine between 1945 and 1953 was a daring endeavour in a new and unexplored political reality. Ultimately, it sparked controversial reactions, not only among the editorial team and its contributors, but also in other Catholic circles.
Scientific objective: The key research objective of this study concerns the meaning and sense of publishing in the face of harsh preventive censorship. The weekly intended to offer, as far as possible, a Catholic point of view on complex religious, cultural and socio-political issues, and to demonstrate an alternative vision of culture. The editorial board used all available means to oppose the distortion of reality and to seek new forms of communication with the reader.
Research methods: The undertaken research used the method of quantitative and qualitative content analysis.
Results and conclusions: At that time, Tygodnik Powszechny published the views of the most prominent figures of scientific, cultural and religious life, including some outstanding, though rebellious, journalists. The authors promoted the development of Polish culture through propagating intellectual output, the art of thinking, and exchange of opinions. Despite the harsh preventive censorship and imputations of reactivism, Tygodnik Powszechny always had the reputation of being the most significant Catholic periodical among Catholic intelligentsia and governmental authorities.