"Lietuvos
Aidas" is a state newspaper established on September 6, 1917. The founder and editor of it was the
first (and future) president of Lithuania Antanas Smetona. It was
published till Soviet occupation. The most prominent
Lithuanian publicists published their articles in it.
"Lietuvos Aidas" is the
whole epoch of the pre-war
journalists. The first number was published in Vilnius. It was stopped to be published on September 31, 1918, when all the
offices were forced to go to Vilnius because of the bolshevik takeover. M. Biržiška, P. Bugailiškis, P. Klimas, pr. J. Stankevičius,
agr. J. Stulginskis (later
also president of
Lithuania), dr. J. Šaulys, A. Žmuidzinavičius
worked or contributed to "Lietuvos aidas".
"Lietuvos aidas" was edited by P. Klimas, later L. Noreika with the help of
can. J. Tumas and pr.
dr. V. Zajančkauskas. The
state newspaper published the most important governmental documents, topical articles and news from
all over the world. German occupational government confiscated the number with the independence
act of February 16. At the beginning it was a fortnightly newspaper, later it became daily. All in all 214 numbers were published. The newspaper was established and published by the initiative of the Lithuanian
Council.
"Lietuvos
Aidas" made the basis of the
free Lithuanian press and contributed
extremely to the reinstatement of statehood in our country.
On the first
of February, 1928 the 215th number of "Lietuvos aidas" (in
brackets) was published. One more epoch of democratic
journalism began together with the official recovering of the state newspaper.
Legendary V. Gustainis became
the editor, after him the
widely known writer I. Šeinius. The last editors
were V. Alantas, A.
Merkelis and B. Dirmeikis. F. Kirša,
Br. Raila, A. Gricius and
other well known publicists at various times worked in the
editorial office. From the end
of 1935 two editions were published: in the morning and in the
evening. On the 15th of July appeared the last number
(5544th) of the state newspaper. This time it was stopped for a long time by the
bolshevik occupation. (Compare the data of "Lietuviu enciklopedija" (Lithuanian Encyclopedia.)
There was an
attempt to publish it as "The Working Lithuania", but after smashing traditions of
"aidas" this Soviet
variant of the newspaper had no success.
After the proclamation
of independence
"Lietuvos aidas" was reborn like Phoenix of ash. It lived together with the whole Lithuanian
nation through the disaster of economical blockade, but now it goes on with the
best traditions of Lithuanian journalism. The first number
of the reborn "Lietuvos Aidas" was
published on May 8, 1990. It was called "The blockade number" and it reminds us the heavy
fighting days of our nation
for independence. According to old traditions it begins the first page with "Parliament chronicle". Also the historical report of May 2 "About the political
situation", made by prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, was
published. It begins with
words: "Lithuania is
in the whirl of international
events". V. Landsbergis was
one of the main initiators
of the recreation of "Lietuvos aidas".
Then it was recreated as the newspaper of Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian
Republic. The first editor of the reborn
"Lietuvos Aidas" was S. Stoma. Later - S. Šaltenis, R.
Grinbergiene, J. Vailionis, R. Varnauskas, A. Drižius.
Now already for several years the head
of the state newspaper is Algirdas Pilvelis who has created a very strong team of journalists
and political analysts. The daily has got
the new breath. A. Pilvelis is the main owner
of "Lietuvos aidas". After plenty of difficulties which followed all the steps
of our independence, the newspaper preserved all deep journalist
traditions and is getting stronger. It has strong positions in the press
market, but it also does not follow
one day sensations, is strongly against promotion of violence and pornography in media. The well known poet and publicist,
the signatory of independence act Sigitas Geda, political analyst Vilius Litvinavičius,
also the well known journalists Vytautas Žeimantas and Linas Jonušas work in the newspaper.
Professor Ona Voverienė,
doctor of social sciences Antanas
Petrauskas, publicist Algimantas Zolubas, famous political analyst Česlovas Iškauskas, famous publicist in our emigration
Vilius Bražėnas contribute
in the newspaper. "Lietuvos aidas" reflects directly and impartially all the events
in Lithuania and the world. When analytical publications have almost disappeared in Lithuania, are presented only separate facts and the
static description of events, our daily differs:
it preserves the best journalist traditions which now are recovering in the most democratic
press in the West. "Lietuvos
Aidas" tries to justify
the name of the state newspaper
and it is the newspaper of all citizens.
In 2017 "Lietuvos aidas" will
celebrate the honourable 100th anniversary.
