Vladimir Pozner (writer)

Vladimir Pozner (born April 1, 1934) is a French-born Russian-American journalist, television host, and writer. He is best known in Russia for his work as a talk show host and interviewer on the Channel One Russia television network.

Pozner was born in Paris, France, to a Russian émigré father and a French mother. He spent his childhood in France, the United States, and Germany before his family settled in the Soviet Union in 1952. He graduated from Moscow State University with a degree in biology and subsequently worked as a translator and literary secretary.

Pozner began his journalism career in the 1960s, working for Radio Moscow, the Soviet Union's international broadcasting service. He gained prominence in the 1980s as a commentator on U.S.-Soviet relations during the Cold War, appearing on American television programs such as Nightline and The Phil Donahue Show. He became known for his articulate defense of Soviet policies while also expressing nuanced perspectives and engaging in open dialogue.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Pozner continued his career in journalism, working both in Russia and the United States. He co-hosted the program Capital to Capital with Phil Donahue for CNBC in the early 1990s. In Russia, he has hosted several prominent talk shows, including Pozner, where he interviews notable figures from politics, culture, and business.

Pozner is known for his sharp interviewing style, his critical thinking, and his willingness to engage in controversial discussions. He has authored several books, including an autobiography titled Parting With Illusions (1990). He holds citizenship in France, Russia, and the United States.