Lidové noviny

"Lidové noviny" is a daily newspaper published in the Czech Republic. Its name can be translated as "People's News". It is the oldest Czech daily. Its profile is nowadays a national news daily for well educated Czech citizen with special interest not only in politics, but also in economics, cultural events, science and education. Lidové noviny is much sought after for its erudite commentaries and opinions of prominent key personalities not only from the Czech Republic but also from abroad. It is widely read also because of its supplements which are of high quality.

"Lidové noviny" was founded in 1893 in Brno. From the very beginning a number of famous Czech personalities has been contributing – writers, politicians, philosophers. Until WW II this daily was highly respected. Its publication was interrupted during World War II and, after the communist takeover of 1948, canceled completely (in 1952). In 1987 a group of dissidents without state approval recommenced publication. Since 1989 LN is being published legally.

The paper is now owned by "Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei- und Verlagsgesellschaft GmbH", the publisher of the "Rheinische Post".

Before World War II, the newspaper's prestige was high, with many famous Czech intellectuals, such as Karel Čapek, being its editors. The contemporary variant concentrates more on infotainment to gain readership.

Lidové noviny followed from the very beginning foreign politics and culture. It was the first daily publishing political cartoons. Among its contributers and editors were not only Karel Čapek, Josef Čapek, Eduard Bass, Karel Poláček, Rudolf Těsnohlídek, Jiří Mahen, Jan Drda, Václav Řezáč, but also the presidents Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and Edvard Beneš.

In 1987 the title Lidové noviny was re-established by a group of dissidents who took the decision to produce an independent daily. With the beginnings of modern publishing of Lidové noviny are connected people as Jiří Ruml, Jiří Dienstbier and Ladislav Hejdánek. It was their goal register the newspaper officially and publish it as a monthly. In the autumn two zero editions were published, the first edition was issued in January 1988. Because they did not succeed to register the newspaper oficially till November 1989, its makers were forced to distribute it in a form of samizdat. In the spring of 1990, Lidové noviny started to be published as a daily. Some years later it was merged with dissolving Lidová demokracie, from which they inherited the blue colour of the title.

Nowadays, the daily is a part of Rheinisch-Bergische Druckerei- und Verlagsgesellschaft, mbH, the publisher of the daily Rheinische Post, which also publishes the daily Mladá fronta DNES in the Czech Republic.

Editors

This list includes only editors of the new Lidové noviny.
* Jiří Ruml (1988–1990)
* Rudolf Zeman (1990–1991)
* Jaroslav Veis (1991–1992)
* Tomáš Smetánka (1992–1993)
* Jaromír Štětina (1993–1994)
* "Jiří Kryšpín" (1994) – interim
* Libor Ševčík (1994–1996)
* Jefim Fištejn (1996–1997)
* Pavel Šafr (1997–2000)
* Veselin Vačkov (since 2000)

External links

* [http://lidovky.cz/ Official page] cs icon