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Vitaly PortnikovUkrainian journalist, writer and publicist, TV presenter
Date of Birth: 14.05.1967
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Vitaliy Portnikov was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 14, 1967. His father was an economist, while his mother was a lawyer. Portnikov began his writing career in 1983 when his works were published in the Latvian newspaper "Yurmala." Unable to attend a university in Kyiv due to restrictions on Jews, he moved to Dnipropetrovsk in 1985 and enrolled in the philology faculty of Dnipropetrovsk State University.
In 1988, he transferred to the journalism faculty of Moscow State University, graduating in 1990. He continued his studies at Moscow State University, completing an aspiring degree in the department of periodical press in 1992.
Career
Journalism and MediaPortnikov's career in journalism began in 1988 when he worked as a Kyiv correspondent for the newspaper "Molod Ukraina." In 1989, he became an observer for the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta," covering issues related to the Soviet republics and the post-Soviet space. He left the publication in 1995 amidst a dispute over its ownership.
Since 1990, Portnikov has collaborated with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, hosting various programs such as "Namely," "Press Hour," and "Guest Time." He writes regularly for "Zerkalo Nedeli", as well as other publications in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Estonia, and Poland.
Television
Portnikov has also worked extensively in Ukrainian television. He hosted the program "VIP" on K1 in 2005 and "The Truth of Vitaliy Portnikov" on TVi from 2009 to 2011. In 2010, he became the editor-in-chief of TVi and its president in 2012. Since 2013, he has hosted several programs on Espreso TV, including "The Political Club of Vitaliy Portnikov."
Activism
Portnikov was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests in 2013 and 2014. He served on the council of the All-Ukrainian Movement "Maidan."
Awards and Recognition
Vitaliy Portnikov is a recipient of the prestigious Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine in 2023. He is also a member of the Ukrainian PEN Center.
Personal Life
Portnikov is private about his personal life. In a 2000 interview on Russia's "Ekho Moskvy" radio station, he briefly discussed his parents' family but declined to provide details about his own.
