The magazine “Yll’ i Mëngjezit”, its contribution to the national cause

Abstract

During the first period of Albania’s Independence 1912-1924, a series of newspapers and magazines started to be published in Korça. They conveyed morale codes, which contributed to the strengthening of the sentiment for state-formation during the first steps of the weak Albanian state. A part of these newspapers was forced to continue their existence outside the borders because of the invasion by fighting parties in the Balkan War and First World War.

90 years have passed since January 30, 1917, when the illustrated magazine “Ylli i Mëngjezit” (The Morning Star) directed by the well-known patriotic woman Parashqevi Qiriazi, was issued for the first time. It was published in Boston, date September 20, 1920. It was issued every two weeks.
The main rubrics were covered by Kristo Dako, husband of P. Qiriazi. Also, he wrote the editorial pages, political surveys and different comments regarding the diplomacy. A special place was occupied by the column of Sevasti Qiriazi “My Memories”, that provide such historical heritages that may constitute very well an introduction for every chapter of the History of Albania on the Invasion of Korça during the First World War.
In order to be as transparent as possible to the readers it should be mentioned that for the first time these torches of our press published the First Code of Ethics of newspapers containing 25 points.
Through this effort to implement these rules, this magazine would set as an obligation towards the readers to be as much objective as possible in the field of information. Keeping in mind the time when they published, sources of the news were always taken from the most prestigious newspapers of the time.
Among pens such as Mihal Grameno, Sevasti Qiriazi, Mithat Frasheri etc, writing for “Ylli i Mëngjesit”, there were also the most well known anthropologists like Edith Durham, Dr. M. Jenkis etc.
Though it was an organ that did not benefited financial backing by the official policies of the time, “Ylli i Mëngjesit” tried to develop and preserve the national identity.
Promoting the foreign policy of the President Wilson, the magazine positioned its vision by undertaking the most fruitful policy of the time that of support of aspirations of all small people, which looked for a better life and self-decision after the First World War.
The editorial policy of “Ylli i Mëngjesit” strongly supported in this time the pure nationalist policies by turning into the propagating voice of the National Party of Albanians of America presided by Sevasti Qiriazi.
For the first time, this magazine gave the possibility to two women to contribute with their untiring work as well as to give the real example of the gender equality in the editorial-staffs of media.
Pages of this magazine will be forever the ones in which the first Albanian female war reporter would write for the first time. Its pages best testified the historical truths of longsuffering Albania, here including the emotions of reporting during the difficult struggle for existence.
Never considering itself better than the other organs of press, “Ylli i Mëngjesit” became the first spark that provided to the Albanian journalism the Code of Ethics, which was and still continues to be regarded as the spring of the professional development of the Albanian journalism of that time.