As the exhibit started to take shape, we thought it would be valuable to show what kind of front page coverage was given to the same events by the "officia" largest circulation Polish papers. The Jagiellonian Library provided us with the original copies of Trybuna Ludu, Zycie Warszawy, Gazeta Wyborcza and Rzeczpospolita.

Though expected, the juxtaposition of the articles by the US and Polish media is still surprising, forcing one to reflect on the role of information and misinformation, journalism and propaganda, history and memory, truth and manipulation. The closer to the end of the decade the smaller the chasm separating the truth from the lies. With the birth of free press in Poland, the wide chasm between Polish and "western" coverage begins to gradually disappear.

"The Polish decade" lasted several months longer than the 10 years. In fact, the way we see it the "decade" began on October of 1978 and ended on August 18, 1989 with the election of opposition leader Tadeusz Mazowiecki to the office of Prime Minister. This is the closing date and page of the exhibit. The opening one is the front page of The Washington Post from October 17, 1978. It carries a large photo of the newly elected Pope greeting the crowds at St. Mark's Square with open arms. The Polish Decade begins.

Ewa Zadrzynska
Contributors: Ewa Wierzynska, Krystyna Stachowiak