Konrad Knoch

How to research the underground press?

The second circuit press is one of the most important historical sources to describe modern Polish history. The studies call for a holistic approach, i.e. the overall research of individual newspapers or thematic exhaustive comparative analysis, carried out by selecting the broadest possible research sample. In the first stage there should be wide queries conducted in order to determine the actual state of research on the topic that interests us. In the second stage a detailed analysis of the content of a newspaper or newspapers must be undertaken, through which a thematic categorization key is developed. For each key-topic selected texts are assigned. Then we measure the area of individual texts on a certain topic by number of pages or cm2. We provide statistical reports serving as a starting point for substantive analysis of texts from the second circuit press. In press we also look for information on the origin of the newspapers, people or environments issuing them, organizational problems etc. The “conversation” of the researcher with the press becomes the preparation for interviews with its creators, authors. Then we start searching for editors or underground printers preceded by the preparation of a comprehensive and exhaustive questionnaire. The next step is to call the notation of sound or film with the people we were able to reach, and who are often (in the absence of archival materials) the only source of information enabling us to work on underground publications. The investigator becomes a mediator in the dialogue between the press and its creator. Another important link in the research on illegal publishing is the analysis of archival materials – primarily operational documents of the Security Service that are stored in the Institute of National Remembrance.
It is a specific research triangle: analysis of the content of the press, conversation with its creators and analysis of archival documents. It allows you to make a chronicle record of the past reality and to save an important part of the modern Polish history from oblivion.
 

Using Facebook to work with students – case study

The author describes several years of experience in teaching student groups and describes the role that Facebook can play when working with students. He highlights its importance in communication and mobile education. In the conclusion the author points out that the most important function of Facebook is to inform the academic community about the organization activities, current events and integrate the group when one is its supervisor. The educational functions of Facebook only complement traditional classes and works hops held in lecture halls.

‘Political Review’ in 1989–2000. Part 1. Organizational and publishing problems

The article presents organizational problems of the ‘Political Review’ in the years 1989–2000, which were connected with the political transformation and the evolution of the journal, which for the fall of communism was Gdańsk underground liberal almanac. The text describes how the ‘Review’ resumed and characterized the graphic design as well as the structure of the magazine. It also discussed the financial problems of the periodical, the rules of operation of the editorial team, and problems related to printing and distribution of the title in that period. An important element which the text was based on was an interview with Wojciech Duda, who has been associated with the magazine from the very beginning since 1983 and remains its editor-in-chief

„Political Review” in the years 1989–2000. Part 2. Liberal revolution

The article describes the liberal concepts presented in the „Political Review” against the background of political changes at the turn of the 80s and 90s. It discusses how the magazine patronized the liberal revolution in Poland, promoted and developed the concepts of ordo liberalism, tried to create its own catalogue of liberal values. The text attempts to answer the question as to how much the „Review” was a party organ, and how much it was an independent magazine and a place of liberal debate. The text also describes the process of building a political environment by Gdansk liberals, starting from the integration of all political and economic initiatives, the organization of the Liberal Congress, and ending with the creation of the Liberal Democratic Congress, and then the Freedom Union.

”Political Review” in the years 1989–2000. Part 3. Liberal revolution

The article describes how the ”Political Review” wanted to promote the liberal revolution in Poland. Debates on capitalism, postulated reforms, mainly in the economic dimension included in the Review are described. The phenomenon of privatization, decentralization and settlements with the liberal revolution in Poland in the first half of the 1990s is also analysed. The evolution and profile change of the magazine is also presented. At the end, the role and significance of the ”Political Review” is summarized and its journalistic achievements are assessed.