“Before Glasnost, there were journalists, but there was no journalism.
There was a collective sin – propaganda.”
Alexander Pumpyansky
Born in 1940 in Alma-Ata, USSR (now Almaty, Kazakhstan). A renowned Russian political journalist.
His journalistic journey started In 1963 with fifteen years at “Komsomolskaya Pravda” — from intern to executive editor and finally special correspondent in New York. It led to a professional ban in 1976 for reporting facts not Kremlin Agitprop deemed the cardinal sins of “bourgeois objectivism and worship of the American way of life”. The ban was finally lifted with the advent of Glasnost.
Editor-in-chief of one of the most prestigious political publications in Russia, “Новое время” (The New Times). 1991 — 2006. Later a columnist for the fearless “Novaya Gazeta”, now banned.
Member of the board of the Sakharov Center.
Member of the Board of the International Press Institute (1992 – 2000).
Author of books as well as scripts and texts for documentary films, including the Soviet-American series “The Unknown War in the East.”
In the USSR, there was neither political journalism nor actual politics. There was sex; otherwise, we wouldn’t have survived. Politics and consequently political journalism remained at the level of immaculate conception.
Before Glasnost, there were journalists, but there was no journalism. There was a collective sin – propaganda. There was the creation of wonders, authority, and secrecy. There was myth-making, fiction, exercises in rhetoric, transmission of secret signals, encryption of meanings, but not the search for and revelation of political truths. Not unveiling veils and not clearing away dirt. Not demystifying power. Journalists were pursued for truth, not pursuing truth.
Before democracy, there was no politics. There were conspiracies, plots, secrets behind seven seals, divination behind the Kremlin wall, authoritarian arbitrariness. Society did not monitor the decision-making process. Those who secretly made decisions monitored society. This was not the time for curious and farsighted… The new era began with Gorbachev and Yeltsin.”
(From the book “Two Leaders, or History as a Shipwreck,” 2003)
Books - New Releases
Mikhail Gorbachev’s Summits.
Stars and Scars.
In “Mikhail Gorbachev’s Summits. Stars and Scars” Alexander Pumpyanskiy, who accompanied Gorbachev to all these monumental events as a special correspondent, offers a first-hand window into the highest level of transformational diplomatic discussions that dared to dream of a world freed from nuclear fear and forged in a new spiritof cooperation.
Bastard President.
Obama, Trump, Biden - How American Democracy is Crafted
“Bastard President”. Donald’s Trump never hesitated to call names. President Obama was allegedly illegitimate as he “was born in Kenya”. President Biden — as he had orchestrated “a big steal”. All lies. But how would you call a persona who violates laws, neglects rules and mocks traditions? Who corrupts politics and ignores policies? That is the persona of Donald Trump himself. He may become twice Bastard President.
Awards
International journalism award
Presented to Alexander Pumpyansky As a representative of the small group of journalists whose professional integrity and personal courage contributed vitally to the struggle for a more critical and analytical journalism in the soviet union.
presented at united nations
New York, september 13, 1989
International Press Institute Fellowship
Have been awarded to Alexander Pumpyansky in recognition of his achievements towards the goal of IPI
Awarded by Hugo Butler, Chairman, International press institute
New Delhi, January 26, 2001
Vorovsky Prize laureate (1986).
The most prestigious award in the field of international journalism. Every year the Union of Journalists of the USSR chose one laureate.
Sais Novartis prize for international journalism
