Nasha Niva

Наша Ніва
Nasha Niva
TypeWeekly newspaper
Owner(s)VPUP Surodzichy
EditorJahor Marcinovič
Founded1906
LanguageBelarusian (Taraškievica before 2008)
Circulationover 6,000[1]
Websitenashaniva.com

Nasha Niva (Belarusian: Наша Ніва, romanized: Naša Niva, lit. "Our field") is one of the oldest Belarusian weekly newspapers, founded in 1906 and re-established in 1991. Nasha Niva became a cultural symbol, due to the newspaper's importance as a publisher of Belarusian literature and as a pioneer of Belarusian language journalism, the years before the October Revolution are often referred to as the 'Nasha Niva Period'.[2][3][4]

In the period between 1906 and 1915 the newspaper was published on a weekly basis. From 1991 to 1995 it appeared once a month, reverting to weekly publication in 1996 and then fortnightly in 1997–1999. In 1999 the paper became a weekly again.[5][6]

Nasha Niva Online (nn.by) was set up in 1997. By 2017 it had become the most frequently visited website in the Belarusian language.[7]

According to Media IQ estimation, Nasha Niva remains free of state propaganda and keeps one of the highest ratings in journalism ethics among Belarusian media.[8][9] Being in open opposition to Alexander Lukashenko's regime, the newspaper was cracked down by the government numerous times, received huge fines and was excluded from state circulation. The editors and journalists were arrested, questioned and beaten by the police and KGB officers.[10]

As of 2020 the editor-in-chief is Jahor Marcinovič, who succeeded Andrej Dyńko.[11][12]

On July 8, 2021, the newspaper's website was blocked by the authorities. The editor-in-chief Jahor Marcinovič and editor Andrej Skurko were detained, their homes and the office being searched.[13] On July 13 the publication announced its closure in Belarus due to growing pressure from the authorities.[14] The employees were advised to move abroad. The editor's office claimed that they would try to re-launch the newspaper outside Belarus.[15][16] The new website was launched on July 29, 2021; the content was uploaded from the publication's social networks and Telegram channel.[17]

On January 27, 2022, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus declared Nasha Niva 'an extremist formation'.[18][19][20] On March 15, 2022, Marcinovič and Skurko were sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for estimated material damage of 10,000 Belarusian rubles ($3000).[19]

On August 15, 2022, Naša Niva launched a Ukrainian-language Telegram channel,[21] so that Ukrainians could obtain independent and objective information from Belarus.[22]

On the occasion of the International Mother Language Day (February 21) in 2023, a machine-converted website edition of Naša Niva in Łacinka (that is, the Belarusian Latin alphabet)[23] was launched.[24][25]

  1. ^ "Тыраж штотыднёвіка "Наша Ніва" дасягнуў 6000 ас. - Наша Ніва: першая беларуская газэта". Archived from the original on 16 September 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  2. ^ Belozorovich 2018, p. 11.
  3. ^ Labintzev & Shavinskaya 2017, p. 509.
  4. ^ Unuchak 2017, p. 51-56.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference nn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference camarade was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "История "Нашей Нивы" c 1906 года до наших дней" [History of Nasha Niva Since 1906 to Our Days] (in Russian). Nasha Niva. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  8. ^ ""Самый сложный в истории независимой Беларуси год". Как беларусские СМИ нарушали стандарты в июне" [The Most Difficult Year in History of Independent Belarus. How Belarusian Press Violated Journalism Standards in June] (in Russian). Media IQ. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. ^ "Лидер по пропаганде в мае — "СБ. Беларусь сегодня"" [Belarus Today Leads in State Propaganda in May] (in Russian). Media IQ. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Authorities crack down on independent journalists". Committee to Protect Journalists. 27 March 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference detain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ "Главред газеты "Наша нива" задержан после освещения акций протеста в Минске". Газета.Ru (in Russian). Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Belarus blocks access to 'Nasha Niva' news website". Deutsche Welle. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. ^ "Издание "Наша нива" объявило о прекращении работы в Белоруссии. Несколько дней назад у его сотрудников прошли обыски" [Nasha Niza Closed in Belarus. Police Raids Journalists' Homes] (in Russian). Meduza. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  15. ^ "Глава отдела рекламы издания "Наша Нiва" попал в медицинскую часть СИЗО" (in Russian). Current Time. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. ^ ""Наша Нива" прекратила работу в Беларуси из-за давления силовиков" ['Nasha Niva' closes in Belarus due to authorities crackdown] (in Russian). Novaya gazeta. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  17. ^ ""Наша Ніва — это не Мартинович и Скурко" — Издание запустило новый сайт" (in Russian). Telegraf.by. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Nasha Niva declared 'extremist formation'". Belsat EU. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Суд в Минске приговорил главного редактора "Нашей Нiвы" к 2,5 года колонии" [Nasha Niva Chief Editor Sentenced to 2.5 years] (in Russian). Interfax. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Nasha Niva declared "extremist formation". Belarusian Association of Journalists. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  21. ^ Наша Ніва
  22. ^ Білоруська «Наша Ніва» запустила Telegram-канал українською. 2022. дм media sapiens. 15 Aug.
  23. ^ «Naša Niva» łacinkaj
  24. ^ Падарунак «НН» да Дня роднай мовы: ад сёння вы можаце чытаць нас лацінкай. 2023. Наша Ніва. 21 Feb.
  25. ^ Padarunak «NN» da Dnia rodnaj movy: ad siońnia vy možacie čytać nas łacinkaj. 2023.Naša Niva. 21 Feb.