“Kontakt” weekly role in formation of independent mass media in South Ural at the end of the ХХ century

The role of the weekly magazine “Contact” is considered very important in the formation of an independent journalism in Chelyabinskaya area in the end of XX century. The author concludes that exactly the “Contact” has become a pioneer among mass media of Southern Ural in regards to ideological and financial freedom from communist party of the Soviet Union.