Izvestia (the name in Russian means "news" and is short for "Izvestiya Sovetov Narodnykh Deputatov SSSR", Известия Советов народных депутатов СССР, the "Reports of Soviets of Peoples' Deputies of the USSR") functioned as a long-running high-circulation daily newspaper in the Soviet Union. While Pravda served as the official mouthpiece of the Communist Party, Izvestia expressed the official views of the Soviet government as published by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The newspaper began as the News of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers Deputies on 28 February (Old Style; 13 March, New Style) 1917 in Petrograd. In August 1917 it took the title News of the Central Executive Committee of the Petrograd Soviet of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. By October 1917 it became News of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Working and Military Deputies.
Initially, the paper expressed Menshevik and SR views.
After the Second All-Union Congress of Soviets, Izvestia became an official newspaper of the Soviet government (Central Executive Committee of the Supreme Soviet and Sovnarkom).
Eventually, in the Soviet Union the full name read "Reports of Soviets of Peoples' Deputies of the USSR", (Известия Советов народных депутатов СССР, "Izvestiya Sovetov Narodnykh Deputatov SSSR").
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Izvestia, describes itself as an "all-national" newspaper of Russia.
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