Zasursky Yasen Nikolaevich: biography, family, activities

2025 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2025-01-05 09:21

The biography of Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky is perhaps known even to people who are rather far from philology and journalism, as such. He is known to many as a member of the jury of various creative competitions, to someone - as an interesting lecturer with a unique and inimitable manner of teaching a lesson. And someone even remembers the young years of Yasen Nikolaevich and his passion for cycling, in which he participated as a professional athlete.

Professor is known to the majority of TV viewers as a regular guest of various programs on linguistic topics, aired on the channel "Culture", he also repeatedly took part in the jury of the TV show "Clever and clever". In any case, people who are somehow interested in the cultural life of Russia and the CIS countries, or who watch TV, one way or another, have heard the name of Yasen Zasursky.

A tireless philologist and journalist, a doctor of sciences who has many awards, a figure of peace and goodness, Professor Zasursky has been his example for almost ninety yearsshows how to live in order to become a real person.

Personality

Yasen Nikolayevich Zasursky is far from being an ordinary person. Doctor of Philology, Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Journalism at Moscow State University, Honored Journalist of the Russian Federation. This man has done an incredible amount for the development of domestic journalism in general.

It is safe to say that it is Zasursky who is the father of Russian journalism, as he brought up many talented masters of his craft, himself being a good teacher and a brilliant mentor. In addition to merits in the field of science and culture, Yasen Nikolaevich is just a good person, a loving family man and an excellent teacher. For many people, he has become a true friend forever.

Biography

Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky was born on October 29, 1929 in Moscow, in a family of workers. In one of the interviews, he mentioned that he received such an unusual name from his mother, who was very fond of his father's eyes, called her husband bright-eyed and decided to name her son in honor of his father's eyes.

Yasen's childhood passed in the atmosphere of harsh war years. Having a great penchant for the sciences and devoid of any other entertainment, Yasen spent a lot of time in the library, located near his house. There was a zoo not far from the Zasurskys' dwelling. However, Yasen never went there. After all, during the war the zoo was evacuated. Years later, Zasursky will remember this place with great love and warmth and often talk about it innumerous interviews.

In 1944, Yasen graduated from school ahead of schedule, and at the age of fourteen he applied to the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages. M. Torez, choosing to study the Faculty of English.

Early years

Studying at the university was easy for a young student. Either the innate ability to study languages and the knowledge of the philological sciences affected, or just the young Zasursky was incredibly stubborn. But in 1948, just four years after the start of his studies, Yasen also graduated from the institute ahead of schedule, immediately starting to write his Ph. D. thesis.

Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky also did not delay too much with the defense of the work, publishing it in 1951. The dissertation "Theodore Dreiser's Path to Communism" was a great success in the scientific community and did not become another work for show, lingering for a long time in the reading rooms of the native Zasursky University.

Editorial activities

In the early fifties, immediately after defending his Ph. D. thesis, Yasen worked as part of the scientific editorial board of the Foreign Literature Publishing House. He had a hand in the release of a large amount of fiction, including editing the first edition of the works of many classics of European literature in the USSR.

Teaching career

Leaving his position as editor in 1953, Yasen Zasursky decided to devote himself to teaching. He took a job at a newly createdMoscow State University Faculty of Journalism. In the period from 1953 to 1965, Yasen Nikolaevich managed to change several jobs, all at the same Moscow State University.

At one time he was the dean of the Faculty of Journalism, then became the head of the Department of Foreign Journalism and Literature, then returned to the Faculty of Journalism, becoming its dean in 1965. He worked in this position until 2007, resigning the same year and taking the honorary post of president of the faculty specially created for him.

Philologist

What distinguishes Yasen Zasursky from other journalists. His biography is closely connected not only with journalism, but also with philology. Ironically, Yasen Nikolaevich was engaged in journalism all his life, and wrote scientific works in philology. In 1967, he defended his doctorate in philology, presenting to the public his work en titled "American Literature of the Twentieth Century." The following year he was awarded the title of professor. In total, there are about two hundred scientific papers and sixteen author's monographs in Zasursky's scientific piggy bank.

Journalist

In 2018, Yasen Zasursky received the honorary title of Honored Journalist of Russia. Indeed, for many years he did everything for the development of domestic journalism. Yasen Nikolaevich came to this branch of the humanities when it was still in its infancy, and for more than 42 years he created it practically from scratch, training the first Russian journalists, who, in turn, became the foundation of magazine and newspaper business, first in the Soviet Union. Union, and then in Russia.

Even now, despite his advanced years, Yasen Nikolaevich is still teaching, giving specialized lectures at several educational institutions in Moscow at once.

Hobbies

In his youth, Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky devoted many years to professional cycling, several times became the winner and prize-winner of the championships in Moscow and the Moscow Region. However, in 1989, due to heavy employment, he was forced to leave cycling, but still continues to ride a bike, although not at the breakneck speeds that he had in his youth.

In 2002, Zasursky discovered the profession of a jury member, and for a long time took part in the boards of trustees and various commissions that evaluated the creative works and talents of young people in the humanitarian field. For example, from 2002 to 2007, the professor was president of the evaluation committee of the competition. V. G. Mezentsev "Young Journalists of Russia", where he not only evaluated the work of young students, but also gave everyone advice on developing their abilities.

Private life

Is Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky married? His family consists of himself, a loving wife, son and two grandchildren. The professor's son, Ivan, followed in his father's footsteps, studying under his guidance as a journalist and taking a position in the industry of modern media technologies and Internet journalism. Both father and son work at Moscow State University.

Awards

It is worth noting scientific achievements and books. Yasen Nikolaevich Zasursky published many works. They were highly appreciated by the governments of the USSR and the Russian Federation, the academician was awarded high state awards, such as the Badge of Honor, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and many others. More than once, Yasen Nikolaevich was also awarded an international assessment of his activities, which resulted in the award of the UNESCO gold medal to him.

In addition to a large number of medals and orders, Yasen Zasursky was awarded the Prize. M. V. Lomonosov, and also became a laureate of the Triumph Prize.