UDC

94(47).082

Authors

Aleksandr E. Kotov
Institute of International Transport Management,
Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping
5/7 Dvinskaya St., St. Petersburg, 198035, Russian Federation;
e-mail: akotov@inbox.ru

Abstract

Bereg has traditionally been regarded as a radical conservative newspaper. It was founded with the financial support of the authorities in 1880 to counter liberal and revolutionary propaganda. Its editor, P.P. Tsitovich, was seen as an alternative to the more independent M.N. Katkov, editor of Moskovskie vedomosti, even though their ideologies were rather similar. Already from the start, the publication of the newspaper was accompanied by scandals. Debating with the underground press, Bereg often quoted banned articles from Nabat and other revolutionary-democratic papers, raising eyebrows among censorship officials. Bereg was criticized by the liberal and left press, along with national conservative papers, which condemned Tsitovich for the lack of integrity and self-serving motives. Another scandal erupted after Bereg was banned: Tsitovich was accused of embezzlement of government funding. Nevertheless, his newspaper included some elements of the liberal-conservative programme, such as the idea of turning dissidents into the Russian third estate. It should also be mentioned that Bereg payed much attention to the issues of education, quite in line with Katkov’s views. Tsitovich continually stressed his solidarity with liberal values while insisting that in Russia they are represented by the state power. However, Tsitovich cannot be counted among the leading ideologists of Russian conservatism, as any ideology was more of a tool for him; neither was he an unprincipled opportunist. Popular socialist ideas of his time Tsitovich countered with liberal values of the law-governed state: respect for property, law, family, and rights of the individual.

Keywords

press, political journalism, Bereg, P.P. Tsitovich, Moskovskie vedomosti, M.N. Katkov

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