Mass-circulation Ukrainian newspapers: creation, functioning, characteristic features

The article deals with the mass-circulation Ukrainian newspapers - a specifi c type of periodicals typical for the Soviet period of the history of the country. Even though the science has already proved the importance of mass-circulation press as a source for studying historical reality, this phenomenon has not yet been systematically studied; the information potential of the mass-circulation newspapers is not covered. It has long been necessary to create a bibliography of mass-circulation newspapers, including an electronic database. The fi rst printed factory newspapers were created based on wall newspapers popular in the 1920s by means of replicating them. The majority of wall newspapers later turned into mass-circulation newspapers, while retaining not only the name, but also the gross numbering. Wall and mass-circulation newspapers are closely linked with the activities of worker and peasant correspondents - a widespread phenomenon in the USSR. Mass-circulation newspapers as a Soviet phenomenon appeared in 1922-1925 and were positioned as a means of collective propaganda, agitation and organization. The main subject of publications is labor achievements and achievements of the country and the republic, individual enterprises, organizations, collective farms; the main purpose is to motivate to work, create the mood of labor impulse, enthusiasm and unity in the team. Being comprehensively supported by the Communist Party the mass-circulation press from the very beginning had favorable conditions for its existence. The rapid development of the“grassroots” press comes in the second half of the 1920s, when industrialization and collectivization became the priority tasks of the economy. In the early 1930s the mass-circulation newspapers became a mass type of media. The mass-circulation press is an important information source for studying the history of individual enterprises, institutions, departments, universities, collective farms, as well as industry, agriculture and education in general.