Petrova K. Newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine as a source to the history of the fight against drunkenness (second half of the XIXth – beginning of the XXth centuries)

The object of research is the newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine of the second half of the XIXth – beginning of the XXth century. The subject of the research is the specifics of newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine of the second half of the XIXth – beginning of the XXth century and coverage of the problems of the fight against alcoholism in the newspapers and the peculiarities of anti-alcohol campaigns in the south of Ukraine. The purpose of the study are a comprehensive source analysis of publications of newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine of the second half of the XIXth – beginning of the XXth century and identification of their informative possibilities for studying organized counteraction to the social phenomenon of drunkenness. Results of the research: The paper recreates the historical picture of the formation and functioning of newspapers in the region. Periodization of historical development of local newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine including political, economic and social factors influence was created. The main types of newspapers of Southern Ukraine («information», «newsletters» and «sheets») were identified and the peculiarities of the development of each of them were described. It was established that the provincial newspapers such as Katerynoslav, Tavria and Kherson gubernia information, had a significant influence on the formation of the traditions of newspaper periodicals in the south of Ukraine. In the course of identifying the informative possibilities of newspaper publications, attention was focused on public and state forms of the fight against drunkeness, their effectiveness and public evaluation of this activity were analyzed. A comparative analysis of Western and domestic experience of anti-alcohol struggle, presented in the materials of newspaper periodicals of Southern Ukraine, was done and attempts of newspaper editorial offices to influence public opinion, to form a positive image of a healthy lifestyle were researched. Scope of use: research of the history of Southern Ukraine, history of periodicals of the Russian Empire, Ukraine and general works and lectures on source studies, historical press studies, history of Ukraine, local history, history of journalism, history of public opinion, sociology of public opinion, history of social work, history of social deviations etc.