Coverage of the Interim Amur Government and Supporters of the Soviet Power Activities in the Kamchatka Region (Based on the Materials of “Kamchatsky listok” Newspaper 1922)

Based on the materials of “Kamchatsky listok” newspaper (1922), the author reveals the peculiarities of the formation of a positive image of the Interim Amur government and discrediting the supporters of the Soviet power in the Kamchatka region on the pages of this newspaper. Newspaper materials show that the establishment of the power of the Interim Amur Government in Kamchatka took place exclusively in a peaceful way. Special emphasis is placed on the legality, patriotism and humanity of the acting government, as well as the support of the government by the Kamchatka population. The author also revealed the peculiarities of presenting information material on the newspaper pages depicting opponents of the acting government (members of the former regional revolutionary committee and members of partisan groups). To create a negative image and discredit them, a significant amount of published information was devoted to the illegality of the regional revolutionary committee in power, the small number of supporters of Soviet power and the criminal methods of their actions. In order to increase the effectiveness of the emotional impact on readers, such a technique as the publication in the news-paper of acute negative personal characteristics of the Kamchatka Bolsheviks, which took on caricature forms, was widely used. The publications of “Kamchatsky listok” are interesting from the point of view of the analysis of the official interpretation of current political events and unique factual data that cannot be found in any other sources.