Mikhail Gus and His Contribution to Russian Culture

The author analyzes on the basis of archival, biographical, historical-genetic and some other methods the figure of Mikhail Semyonovich Gus (1900–1984), which has not yet become the subject of special consideration in a monographic way. The aim of the paper is to try to systematize the information already available in the literature and to introduce into scientific circulation information still unknown to the public about his personality and multilateral activities and on this basis to present his contribution to Russian culture. Tracing the life path of M. S. Gus, the author dwells in more detail on his most significant episodes, reproduced on the basis of documents from the writer’s personal archive stored in RGALI, as well as publications in open sources. These include the period of his formation as a journalist and organizer of the new press system in the early years of Soviet power in Ukraine; journalistic, editorial activities and newspaper studies in the 1920s, as well as counter-propaganda work on the radio in 1941–1946. In addition, the author gives examples of literary and literary-critical creativity of the writer. As a result of the research, the author comes to the conclusion that Hus made the most valuable contribution to the development of such areas as journalism and mass communications (periodicals, radio, news agencies, journalism, anti-fascist counter-propaganda), the science of journalism (newspaper studies), training for the media, the sectoral trade union movement, historical genres in literature. Whereas during his lifetime he was known primarily as a critic, literary researcher and organizer of party and political work among Soviet writers