Vitaly Korotich
Encyclopedia
Vitaly Korotich is a Soviet, Ukrainian
and Russia
n writer and journalist,.
Vitaly Korotich was born in 1936 in Kiev
. In 1959 he graduated from the Kiev Medical University. Vitaly Korotich worked as a doctor between 1959 and 1966. Later, he became as a full-time writer, and served as an officer of the Union of Soviet Writers.
In the late 1970s, Korotich became the editor of Vsesvit
. a Ukrainian literary magazine in Kiev specializing in publishing literary works translated from foreign languages. His magazine was described at the time as one "that probably prints more of the latest American fiction than any magazine in Moscow".
In 1976, Korotich spent three weeks as a writer-in-residence at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas
. In 1984, still the editor-in-chief of Vsesvit, he was in New York as a member of the Ukrainian SSR
's delegation at the United Nations General Assembly
.
In 1985, he visited Canada as well, participating in a campaign for world peace and for nuclear disarmament.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Vitaly Korotich was editor-in-chief of Ogonyok
magazine in Moscow, which made, some say, a substantial contribution to the promotion of media freedom in the former USSR. The Ogonyok magazine, at the time when Korotich was at its head, was regarded as a "megaphone" for the perestroika
and glasnost
policies of the last USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev
.
In 1992 Vitaly Korotich went to the U.S.
for a lecturer
assignment in one of the local universities (Boston).
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n writer and journalist,.
Vitaly Korotich was born in 1936 in Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. In 1959 he graduated from the Kiev Medical University. Vitaly Korotich worked as a doctor between 1959 and 1966. Later, he became as a full-time writer, and served as an officer of the Union of Soviet Writers.
In the late 1970s, Korotich became the editor of Vsesvit
Vsesvit
Vsesvit is a Ukrainian periodical that publishes exclusive translations of world classics and contemporary works of literature, covers different aspects of cultural, artistic, social, and political life in all parts of the world...
. a Ukrainian literary magazine in Kiev specializing in publishing literary works translated from foreign languages. His magazine was described at the time as one "that probably prints more of the latest American fiction than any magazine in Moscow".
In 1976, Korotich spent three weeks as a writer-in-residence at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
. In 1984, still the editor-in-chief of Vsesvit, he was in New York as a member of the Ukrainian SSR
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic or in short, the Ukrainian SSR was a sovereign Soviet Socialist state and one of the fifteen constituent republics of the Soviet Union lasting from its inception in 1922 to the breakup in 1991...
's delegation at the United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
.
In 1985, he visited Canada as well, participating in a campaign for world peace and for nuclear disarmament.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Vitaly Korotich was editor-in-chief of Ogonyok
Ogonyok
Ogoniok is one of the oldest weekly illustrated magazines in Russia, issued since . It was re-established in the Soviet Union in 1923 by Mikhail Koltsov....
magazine in Moscow, which made, some say, a substantial contribution to the promotion of media freedom in the former USSR. The Ogonyok magazine, at the time when Korotich was at its head, was regarded as a "megaphone" for the perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
and glasnost
Glasnost
Glasnost was the policy of maximal publicity, openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions in the Soviet Union, together with freedom of information, introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the second half of the 1980s...
policies of the last USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991...
.
«Korotich has given voice and direction to Glasnost.... In his hands Ogonyok became the point of the spear and also a blunt instrument flailing away at the enemies of change and renewal, including Communist party notables and formerly inviolate institutions like the K. G. B. and the Soviet Army. Korotich says that he is on a civilizing mission whose goal is «a normal life in an abnormal society» and explains, «For seventy years, we were taught that the son who betrayed his father, or a person who burned a church, was a hero. People have been living a comprehensive lie. We have to show that it is possible to live here and be normal».
«The New Yorker»
«For his leadership in a new age of journalism in the Soviet Union; for his devotion to reform and democratization despite efforts by conservatives to minimize his influence; and for his work to correct «official» but false history and promote the rehabilitation of victims of Stalinist repression. Korotich becomes World Press Review's 1988 International Editor of the Year. He is the first Soviet journalist to receive our award, which is made annually for the demonstration of courage, enterprise, and leadership in advancing press freedom and responsibility, enhancing world understanding, defending human rights and fostering excellence in journalism».
«The World Press Review», New York
In 1992 Vitaly Korotich went to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for a lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
assignment in one of the local universities (Boston).