Media
Our relationships with local media grew
exponentially this year, as we became more pro-
active in issuing statements and initiating media
interest in a variety of issues and activities. The Persian
Gulf War and the vicious attacks on Israel by
Saddam Hussein turned intensive media attention to
the local Jewish community.
Council rose to the challenge by providing
spokespersons and story ideas to TV stations, radio
stations and newspapers on a round-the-clock
basis.
Nearly a dozen reporters attended a news
conference with Israeli Consul General Uri Bar-Ner
the day before the start of the war.
We produced, as one of our regular "Open Doors"
programs on WDIV-TV4, a program featuring Israeli
schlicha Sivan Maas, during the war, giving metro-
Detroiters a more personal view of how the attacks
on Israel affected the Israeli people. Kathy Ozery,
former Council staffer now living near Jerusalem,
was interviewed on an almost daily basis by WWJ
Radio and WKBD-TV50.
In our continuing efforts to enable the news media to educate the
general community about the Jewish community, we provided news
kits to more than 150 local news organizations, with information on the
major Jewish holidays and feature ideas.
At our November Community Assembly, U.S. News and World Report
Senior Editor Michael Barone and Political Consultant Jack Casey
analyzed the election results and their implications for the Jewish
community.
We created, through the generosity of The Jewish News, a new full-
page feature, called the Kesher Page, offering a wealth of
opportunities for those wishing to volunteer time or donate goods to
worthy organizations. The Jewish News also makes Project Chametz,
our program to feed the hungry at Passover time, a great success by
donating full-page ads.
The Detroit News, Free Press, WXYZ-TV7 and WWJ Radio cosponsored
the World Food Day "7% Solution," which raised more than $12,000 to
feed Michigan's hungry.
Metro Detroit now has a much increased awareness of who we are and
how we feel, resulting in new relationships between the Jewish community
and some groups, and strengthening our bonds with others.