publisher’
s notebook
JN: Can It Continue To Connect Us?
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online comments
I
’
m often asked what makes
Detroit unique among North
American Jewish commu-
nities. Yes, we are generous with
our time and treasure. And we
have a tradition of cultivating
leaders and shar-
ing them locally,
nationally and
internationally.
However, our
“special ingredi-
ent” is everyone
here knows each
other or thinks
they should!
With a local Jewish population
exceeding 70,000, we can’
t know
everyone. But our Federation’
s
demographic studies show
most Detroiters have lived here
their entire lives. We’
ve shared
neighborhoods, schools, camps,
synagogues, youth groups,
sororities and fraternities. We’
ve
summered on the same lakes
and have patronized the same
businesses. And for many who
move away, staying in touch
with “home” remains a lifelong
priority.
Providing and strengthen-
ing this thread of community
connectedness — by writing
credibly and engagingly about
the people you know or think
you should — is at the core
of what the Jewish News does.
In fact, more people today are
connecting to the Detroit Jewish
community and each other via
the Jewish News than at any time
in our 77-year history.
Google analytics show
thejewishnews.com is approach-
ing 100,000 views per month.
Nearly half of these users are
under the age of 45 (approx-
imately 20 percent of our
under-45 users reside out of
state). Meanwhile, Federation’
s
2018 demographic study shows
approximately half of our com-
munity over the age of 55 are
reading the JN print edition.
While the website and print
edition each have exclusive
stories and features, young and
old — and in between — are
being brought together by com-
mon content. The annual Cap &
Gown, 36 Under 36 and Rising
Stars issues generate tremendous
multi-generational interest and
excitement. Last week’
s feature
on three generations of Blums
— George, Robert and Natalie
— in pediatric practice together
was enjoyed by hundreds (more
likely thousands) of current and
former patients. Today’
s edition
features the Schwartz, Tepman
and Grubner families, whose
Detroit-based Porter Bottle
Company spans five generations.
The ability of the Jewish News
to provide this thread of com-
munity connectedness is being
fundamentally challenged by
dramatic changes disrupting the
media industry. As I’
ve shared
previously, our industry remains
dependent on an old-school
economic model that relies
on declining volumes of print
advertising to pay for most of
what we do. And the vast major-
ity — 87 percent — of all digital
advertising goes to just two enti-
ties, Google and Facebook.
It couldn’
t come at a worse
time.
Today, we are surrounded by
highly partisan media outlets
and bombarded by myriad dig-
ital sources — including many
emanating from enemies of our
country or the Jewish commu-
nity — whose intention is to
pump out “fake news,
” create
“alternative facts” and advance
conspiracy theories. The desire
is to divide us. Fragment us. Cut
our common thread of commu-
nity connectedness.
The Detroit Jewish News
Foundation, a 501-c-3 nonprofit
organization formed in 2011,
will likely be playing a more
significant role in supporting,
strengthening and sharing inde-
pendent, credible journalism
for Detroit’
s Jewish community.
C
ommunity support — from
readers like you — will be
needed if the Jewish News is to
continue to be our community’
s
trusted common thread that
keeps us connected to our com-
munity, the world around us
and each other during these
turbulent times.
Arthur
Horwitz
6 | OCTOBER 10 • 2019
“Providing the thread of
community connectedness is at
the core of what the JN does.”
The Jewish News welcomes
feedback from readers, many
of whom commented on the
story “Michigan Representatives
Call for Impeachment” on our
Facebook page.
Denise Bendori: The most ridic-
ulous thing ever! Michigan is turn-
ing into California-lite with those
people in office initiating policy that
will destroy Michigan from within.
Deborah Eber: Trump is a
deceitful, ignorant and ill-tempered
man. He has no understanding of
law or governance. He campaigns
instead of governing.
Helene Goldberg: Trump is a
terrible man. No one I know can
stand him so I’
m glad they’
re going
to try and impeach him.
Johnny Ricks: It’
s amazing to
witness how divided Americans are
on Trump.
Mickey Levin: Trump is a
“terrible man” is not grounds
for impeachment. Check the
Constitution. I know you wouldn’
t
want a Democrat being impeached
one day for being a “terrible per-
son.” I know a lot of people who
can stand him and, more impor-
tantly, like the job he is doing.
Nancy Besser: Impeachment
from a Congress with 14 percent
approval rating is quite a joke here
… Sure, impeach Trump because
they cannot win against him with
the 2020 freak show candidates
running.
Julie Geller Bussell: He (Trump)
is no role model I would want any
of my students or children to honor
or show respect to. He’
s a disgrace.
Eric Weiss: They don’
t have
the votes, and Trump did nothing
wrong … I know who I will not be
voting for.
Readers had this to say on
Facebook after reading the
online story “ADL Deems ‘
OK’
Hand Gesture a Hate Symbol.”
Frances Swoish: The people
in this picture are turning this
worldwide-known friendly hand
gesture into a sign of hate … the
letters WP. (White Power.) I have a
hand gesture for them.
Lawrence Rachleff: Oy vey,
what’
s next? The thumbs up or
the smile?