Lit a "Light": how Vitaly Korotich changed Soviet journalism

Journalist and writer Vitaly Korotich, the star of Ogonyok magazine during the Perestroika period, passed away at the age of 89. He served as the editor-in-chief of the publication from 1986 to 1991 and turned it into one of the most influential in the USSR thanks to topical articles and conversations about what was not accepted at that time. What a mark Vitaly Korotich left in Russian journalism is in the Izvestia article.

Working with Ogonyok

Vitaly Korotich was called the foreman of perestroika. He already had considerable writing experience when, in May 1986, on the recommendation of Robert Rozhdestvensky and at the suggestion of politician Alexander Yakovlev, he was appointed editor-in-chief of Ogonyok. For example, the year before that, the writer was awarded the USSR State Prize for the book "The Face of Hate", where he captured the image of America of that decade. But it was in the status of the editor—in-chief of the now iconic magazine that he gained wide fame not only at home but also abroad, even if he held the post for a relatively short time - until 1991.

During this five-year period, under Korotich's leadership, Ogonyok became one of the most influential and discussed publications. Just four years later, its circulation tripled and exceeded 4 million copies — a physician by first education, Vitaly Korotich felt the painful topics of concern to society. The pages featured revelations, articles about youth issues, historical and socio-political topics. The rhetoric was often harsh. For example, one of the most high-profile materials, "Zhdanov Liquid, or Against Defamation" by Yuri Karjakin, based on materials from the closed archives of the KGB, was dedicated to the death of Nikolai Gumilev.

"Of course, he is a unique person for our journalism in his own way," Vladimir Solovyov, chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists, said in an interview with Izvestia, recalling Vitaly Korotich. — Every issue of Ogonyok became a bestseller during his lifetime. This was the first step at the moment when it became possible to talk about many things that could not be talked about in Soviet times. And the editors took full advantage of this, as they say, to the fullest. Therefore, our fellow citizens stood in queues to buy a room and absorbed this information with great curiosity.

Recognition across the ocean

Ogonyok, the expert added, largely influenced the return of audience interest in the print press.

— Huge subscription volumes appeared and, of course, then it was a very big shift in our journalism. In fact, it is the emergence of what can be called freedom of speech, freedom of information dissemination," Vladimir Solovyov emphasized.

Korotich also received recognition in the West. In 1989, the American magazine World Press Review named him the "Foreign Editor of the Year" — the title was awarded annually to a laureate from outside the United States for his courage in promoting the ideas of free journalism. And soon the winner of the award himself left Russia. A short but vivid period of leadership of the publication ended for him in 1991. Then the August coup happened. But Korotich decided to stay in the USA. He taught at Boston University for a while. From 1998 to 2014, he was the head of the editorial board of the Ukrainian edition of Gordon Boulevard. In recent years he has lived in Russia.

The death of the journalist and writer became known on September 30, 2025. It is reported that he died the day before at the age of 89.