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Special!

The Jewish News is crowned "Newspaper of the Year."

Celebrate! was named best special section.

Robert Sklar

Alan Hitsky

David Sachs
Senior Copy Editor

T

he Detroit Jewish News
has won bragging rights
as the 2006 "Newspaper
of the Year" in a statewide
competition sponsored by the
Michigan Press Association. And
the IN's colorful special-section
inserts received special acclaim.
"To be named Newspaper of
the Year for the third time in the
past six years is remarkable said
IN Editor Robert A. Sklar. "It's
certainly worth kvelling over, not
only by our staff but by the entire
Jewish community."
In all, the IN claimed 13
awards for excellence in writing,
photography and design and
picked up an additional three
honors for the content and styl-
ing of its advertising.
"Head and shoulders, the top
paper in the group:' wrote the
journalists who judged the contest,
which named the JN the state's
best weekly publication in the
10,000-20,000 circulation range.
"Strong stories and commen-
tary; slick design and photogra-
phy; standout advertising con-
tent:' were the judges' remarks in
awarding the IN first place in the
General Excellence category.
The Jewish News also domi-
nated the Special Section cat-
egory — JN glossy supplements
swept all three prizes. Celebrate!
A Guide to Simchahs (March
16, 2006) piloted by Associate
Editor Alan Hitsky won first

Meg Lyczak

Lynne

Gail

Deborah

George

Shelli

Elizabeth

Angie

Konstantin

Zimmerman

Schultz

Cantor

Dorfman

Applebaum

Baan

place followed by the Chanukah
Gift Guide (Nov. 24 and Dec. 8,
2005) produced by Hitsky and
Elizabeth Applebaum and the
monthly Platinum lifestyle maga-
zine, edited by Lynne Konstantin
and Gail Zimmerman.
In all three cases, the journal-
ist judges noted the great benefit
the IN provides its readers and
advertisers.
Celebrate! was praised for its
"creative story ideas" that "give
local businesses and sources
plenty of play while offering
readers plenty to read and enjoy."
The Gift Guide was lauded for
its "nice use of local sources and
advertisers. A service to both
readers and business owners."
Platinum, a glossy monthly
lifestyle magazine, was described
as "a nice mix of local advertising
and local stories in a high-qual-
ity package
All three special sections were
laid out by page designer Anne
Lada of the IN Creative Services
team led by Production Director
Michelle Sheridan and Creative
Director Deborah Schultz.
Besides the success as an
award-winning publication,
Editor Sklar sees the IN as ful-
filling a larger, unifying role for
local Jewry.
The recent demographic study
of the Detroit Jewish Community
commissioned by the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit found that the Detroit
Jewish News was the most effec-
tive Jewish newspaper in the

country in terms of penetrating
the local Jewish population. A
phenomenal 66 percent of Jews
in the core metro Jewish com-
munity of southeast Oakland
County are regular readers of
the IN and another 22 percent of
Jews are occasional readers.
"The demographic study
reflects the quality of our news-
paper in providing coverage
unavailable elsewhere — as well
as being the major link for the
various parts of our community,"
Sklar said.

Other Honors
Additional Michigan Press
Association awards given to the
Jewish News included:
• Feature Story
1st Place: Elizabeth
Applebaum; "The Power Of Love"
(Cover story, Dec. 15, 2005).
"Wonderful in-depth look at
autism:' said the judges.
• Sports Feature
1st Place: Gabriella Burman;
Regaining Her Edge, on Olympic
ice dancer Jamie Silverstein
(Cover story, Feb. 9, 2006).
• Editorial Pages
2nd Place: Robert A. Sklar, edi-
tor. The judges cited "strong and
well-researched" editorials plus
"an interesting column" (George
Cantor's "Reality Check").
• Local Columnist
3rd Place: George Cantor for
weekly "Reality Check" column.
• News Story
3rd Place: Shelli Liebman
Dorfman; "A Helping Hand"

(Cover story, Sept. 29, 2005),
about the Yad Ezra food pantry.
This was part of the JN's yearlong
Help Heal Hunger campaign to
aid the Jewish community
• News Picture
3rd Place: Angie Baan;
"Standing With Israel" (Jan. 12,
2006, page 34).
• Feature Picture
3rd Place: Angie Baan;
"Precious Goal" (Cover photo,
Nov. 17, 2005).

•Design

Chanukah Gift Guide won praise.

3rd Place: The JN Creative
Services team, led by Production
Director Michelle Sheridan
and Creative Director Deborah
Schultz. "Excellent product. Great
weekly. Great ads, especially
glossy color:' said the judges.

Advertising Awards
In the Michigan Press
Association advertising competi-
tion, the IN won three awards:
• Best Special Section
1st Place: Gift Guide II;
"Wonderful ad layouts. Great
reproductions:' said the judges.
• Best Classified Ad Section
1st Place: IN Marketplace
"Nice looking section. Well-
planned:' said the judges.
• Best Classified or ROP Real
Estate Ad
2nd Place: for Realtor Jeff
Barker ad.
The JN's advertising depart-
ment is led by Advertising
Director Meg Lyczak and
designed by the JN Creative
Services team.

Platinum: "High quality."

The JN: lauded as a benefit to

both readers and advertisers.

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December 14 2006

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