For years we wanted to create a unique archive for the former Új Élet (New Life) magazine.

Already at the launch of the Azopan Archive, we had more than a thousand photos from Új Élet (New Life) magazine, thanks to the Fortepan archive in Budapest. Over time, we discovered more pieces from the magazine's scattered photo archive. Since we are also avid users of the Arcanum database, we decided to combine the photos and digitized issues of the magazine on one platform and start linking the photos to the articles in which they appeared.

Új Élet (New Life) was a socio-cultural magazine with many photographs, edited in Târgu Mureș and printed in Bucharest, published twice a month under this name between 1959 and 1989.

It was part of a series of Hungarian-language press products in Romania created or relaunched by the top leadership of the Romanian Workers' Party in response to demands by Transylvanian Hungarian writers in the summer and fall of 1956 concerning the situation of Hungarian culture and press.

It was originally launched as a monthly newspaper in April 1958 under the name Művészet (Art), with the subtitle Theater, Music, Fine Arts, Film. This was changed by a central order in the summer of 1959, when, at the end of the August consolidated issue, a short announcement was published that from October on the magazine would be published twice a month under the title Új Élet (New Life).

"Leaving behind the relatively narrow world of film, theater, visual arts and music - and, we emphasize, without forgetting them - we will also report on other areas of our new life through literary reportage and artistic photography. We want to reflect more faithfully the constructive work of working people, the increasingly beautiful life of workers in industry and agriculture. Artistic creation is linked to the everyday practice of building socialism. This link defines its purpose and meaning. In the spirit of this organic unity, we are reshaping the image of our magazine and taking on the task of presenting the present in a richer and more vivid way. We wish to inform our readers about the major political and social events of our time, which are essential for raising the cultural level of the broadest masses of the population and for shaping the world-view of socialist man. We believe that Új Élet (New Life) will satisfy the needs of the broadest working classes if it regularly informs its readers about all important social and artistic events in our country and in the world. Új Élet (New Life) is launched through the loving care of our Party and government. We hope that our paper will soon become a beloved friend and comrade of laboring people eager to be educated." [Művészet (Art), 1959-08-01 / no. 8-9]

With a circulation of only 3,000 copies at the time of its launch, the magazine managed to increase its circulation to over 20,000 copies by the late 1970s.

After the fall of Ceaușescu's regime in 1989, the editorial staff changed its name to Erdélyi Figyelő (Transylvanian Observer) and continued its work with enthusiasm, but the difficulties of the transition years gradually made it impossible to continue, with the last issue appearing in 1996.

Writer András Sütő was editor-in-chief from its foundation until June 1989, when he resigned due to mounting political pressure. Since 1990, he was listed as chairman of the editorial board for several years.

Editorial staff (not exhaustive)

István Katona Szabó was deputy editor-in-chief from 1959-67, László Török from June 1974 until May 1989, Pál Nagy was editorial secretary until February 1984, and József Éltető was editorial secretary until the paper closed. The editor in Bucharest was László Lőrinczi, then András K. Bodor. The in-house staff consisted of Ferenc Bartis, Miklós Dános, Tamás Deák, Ferenc Elekes, György Jánosházy, Zoltán Márki, Ildikó Marosi, István Polgár, László Szekernyés, Lilla Szépréti, Ilona Varró, József Veres and other photographers: József Marx, Lajos Erdélyi and Zoltán Haragos, graphic designer Ferenc Deák and later Katalin Varga; Baron János Kemény (founder of the theater in Tg. Mureș) was also a columnist until 1964.

From 1990, the magazine continued to be published under the editorship of András Sütő, then József Éltető (1990-91), István Zsehránszky (1992-94) and János Lázok (1994-96).

This project was made possible thanks to funding from the The Administration of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN).

The project does not necessarily represent the position of the Administration of the National Cultural Fund. AFCN is not responsible for the content of the project or how the results of the project may be used. These are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary.