Curious how a communist party organ transformed into a liberal-leftist news magazine? That story unfolds right here at the Polityka building. Polityka is a Polish socio-political weekly. It has been published in Warsaw since 1957.
Initially, Polityka served as the press organ of the PZPR. That is the Polish United Workers’ Party. Unlike Trybuna Ludu it allowed diverse opinions. This helped the magazine slowly gain popularity.
Mieczysław Rakowski became editor-in-chief in 1958. He held the position until 1982. Under his leadership, Polityka absorbed the monthly “Świat i Polska” in 1959. The magazine even organized a campaign to collect books for new school libraries.
After 1989, Poland underwent a transformation. In 1990, Polityka separated from the Workers’ Publishing Cooperative “Prasa-Książka-Ruch”. It became an independent cooperative. Since 1992, Polityka has awarded “Polityka” Passports to outstanding creators of culture. They also fund scholarships for young scientists.
The weekly changed to a color magazine in 1995. In 2020, its circulation reached 127 thousand copies. Polityka covers political, economic, scientific, and cultural topics. It provides commentary, analysis, and reports.
Stefan Żółkiewski was the first editor-in-chief in 1957. Jerzy Baczyński has been the editor since 1994. The headquarters were once on the 20th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science. Now, Polityka shares a tenement house at ul. Słupecka 6. It shares it with other editorial offices and an analytical center.
Polityka had a circulation of 245000 copies in 2001. Despite its past as a communist mouthpiece, Polityka evolved. It became a significant voice in Poland’s media landscape. It continues to offer insightful analysis and commentary on Polish society. The magazine also awards the Paszporty Polityki. That is an annual award for the arts, since 1993. It’s a testament to Polityka’s enduring influence on Polish culture.