Selected social and economic problems of Warmia and Mazury in the eyes of the editors of the Illustrated Magazine “Panorama of the North” in the years 1957–1981

Abstract

The article analyzes the image of Warmia and Mazury in the weekly „Panorama Północy” (1957–1981), one of the most important periodicals of postwar northern Poland. As a tool of indoctrination in the People’s Republic of Poland, the press simultaneously presented real problems of the region while constructing a vision aligned with current state policy.

Above all, the narrative emphasized the integration and “Polonization” of Warmia and Mazury, while avoiding difficult topics such as nationality verification processes or traces of German heritage. The reports depicted the everyday life of state-owned farms (PGRs), the development of agriculture and the agri-food industry, the reconstruction of towns, the modernization of healthcare infrastructure, and the establishment of new industrial plants. At the same time, the role of tourism was highlighted as a strategic branch of the regional economy, reflected in numerous editorial initiatives aimed at promoting natural assets and improving recreational conditions.

„Panorama Północy” constructed an image of Warmia and Mazury as a space undergoing dynamic modernization, while at the same time being attractive both culturally and for tourism. However, the regional specificity was blurred, with the community presented as nationally and culturally homogeneous. Consequently, the magazine co-created the propagandistic myth of the “Recovered Territories,” portraying them as an example of integrational and economic success, while simultaneously silencing real social tensions and everyday problems.