Pioneer newspapers in the 1920s: the regional context

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the Pioneer periodicals from 1922 - 1927 both at the national level and in Orel province. The article analyzes the congresses and plenums resolutions of the Russian Communist Party and the Russian Leninist Communist Youth League concerning the periodicals and literature expanding aimed at promoting and developing the Pioneer movement. The study reveals such peculiarities of the first Pioneer magazines and newspapers as the publications subject and a special work with both Pioneer reporters and children reporters. The work was important for improving the publications content, their expanding and forming Pioneers’ social activity. The Pioneer reporters initiated useful work in their groups. They struggled with disadvantages and published wall-newspapers in their groups. The authors used quantitative and qualitative analysis to examine the subject and the content of such Orel Pioneer newspapers as «Young Pioneer» and «Red Scarf» from 1922 till 1927. The first Orel one-day newspaper «Young Pioneer» was published in 1922. It was dedicated to the International Children's Week. The newspaper covered the issues of the interaction between Russian labor scouts and Orel Pioneer groups and told about the history of the International Children's Week. "Young Pioneer" encouraged to join Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization. The issue arose about Pioneer newspaper mass publishing after the Orel Pioneer squad was created on April the 1st in 1923. «Red Scarf» was published for the first time in 1924 edited by Alexander Smirnov. Alexander Smirnov became the head of the Orel Pioneer organization. The newspaper influenced public opinion regarding the Pioneer organization, indicated the existing problems in Pioneer groups, and suggested the ways to solve them. The main tasks of «Red Scarf» were determined by ideological and political education, labor education, military-patriotic popularization, propaganda of physical education and sports, the struggle for a new way of life, etc., that the Soviet state formulated. The article analyzes the columns about the Pioneers’ life in Orel province. «Red Scarf» held various promotions, shows and competitions. The newspaper was published from 1924–1927. The authors conclude that the newspaper became very popular as many Pioneer reporters sent their notes to it. The Pioneer reporters, even those who did not connect their lives with journalism, became responsible members of the society with active citizenship.