Views
6 | OCTOBER 17 • 2019
lunches for the kids at David
L. Mackenzie Elementary-
Middle School. He knew the
favorite sandwiches for his
regulars from Bays English
Muffins. He navigated the
“nightmare certification” of
WIC and stocked quality
products for families —
without neglecting Twinkies
and Rosé Impérial, both
available in bulk.
One night, when Michael
got stumped trying to balance
his books, he posted online,
“
someone should really teach
this stuff in school.”
“Is that an offer?” replied
Peter West, his former teacher
and adviser.
Michael heard — though
he’
s still not sure who did the
offering.
Hearing his students sing
along with Martha Reeves (or
possibly the other way around)
was a highlight of the nearly
two years Michael has been
back at Ann Arbor Academy,
first as a part-timer and now
as development director and
electives teacher. But every day
is an adventure.
Michael is quick to
boast about the school’
s
multisensory experiential
learning: film production
(“they cast me!”), metal
smithing, woodshop,
humanities, American Sign
Language (“
great for auditory
issues and dyslexia”), political
theory (“weirdly popular”)
and adulting (“life skills class
that kids will actually sign up
for”).
He hears his students the
way Peter (“
still my adviser”)
heard him.
“They’
re learning to
navigate a road I have
traveled.”
Jewfro from page 5
publisher’
s notebook
The JN: Remembering Your Name,
Keeping Your Flame, Telling Your Story
A
nd when you’
re gone,
who remembers your
name? Who keeps
your flame? Who tells your
story? Who tells
your story? Who
tells your story?”
These mem-
orable lyrics at
the dramatic
conclusion
of Hamilton:
An American
Musical could be asked of
you. Who has told your fami-
ly’
s story? Who is telling your
story? Who will tell the story
of your future generations?
Since 1916, the Jewish
News and its predecessor
publication, the Jewish
Chronicle have been captur-
ing and telling the stories of
literally tens of thousands of
Detroiters, like you. More
than 330,000 pages of con-
tent — all digitized and easily
searchable via the Detroit
Jewish News Foundation’
s
William Davidson Digital
Archive of Jewish Detroit
History (djnfoundation.org)
— provide breadth, depth
and context about the way
your family, friends and com-
munity lived, worked, played,
learned, prayed and loved.
These myriad snapshots
in time comprise our com-
munity’
s DNA. They are the
first and final drafts of his-
tory. They help ensure that
even in our current era of
“fake news” and “
alternative
facts,” your legacy will not be
defined or revised by others.
Each week, digitized copies
of the Jewish News — our
newest snapshots in time —
are set aside for inclusion in
the archive, which is part of
the permanent collection of
the University of Michigan’
s
Bentley Historical Library.
And because more of our
community’
s story — your
story — is being told daily
via thejewishnews.com, the
Bentley is capturing this con-
tent, too.
Dramatic changes are
disrupting all facets of the
media industry. Our commu-
nity’
s main source of news,
information and connectivity
— the Jewish News — is not
exempt from these chang-
es. Printed advertising, the
backbone of the industry, is
eroding. Since 2004, more
than 2,100 newspapers across
America have ceased to exist.
Meanwhile, two mega-busi-
nesses, Google and Facebook,
are the recipients of 87 per-
cent of all digital advertising.
That leaves almost nothing
for everyone else.
Today, demand for trust-
ed Jewish journalism in our
community is stronger than
ever. With a rapidly growing
daily digital presence and
iconic (and now all-glossy)
publication, the Jewish News
reaches more people than
at any time in its history.
However, because of the
decline in the industry’
s
print-advertising-centric
business model, the ability to
meet this demand is severely
limited.
That’
s why the Detroit
Jewish News Foundation, an
independent 501-c-3 non-
profit organization, will be
initiating a “bridge to the
future” campaign to secure
resources to help enable the
Jewish News — our commu-
nity’
s main source of news,
information and connectivity
— to transition to a sustain-
able business model under
nonprofit ownership. You’
ll
hear more about this cam-
paign shortly.
“And when you are gone,
who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame? Who
tells your story?”
The Jewish News does, and
with your partnership, will
continue to do so for many
years to come.
Arthur
Horwitz
Views
6 | OCTOBER 24 • 2019
W
ell, you are now leaving the world
of unbiased journalism — real
journalism — for advocacy
journalism.
”
Ouch.
Almost 34 years later, those words still
bite. It was my final day
working at the Baltimore
Sun. I had been recruited
by the new owners of the
Detroit Jewish News to
relocate here with my wife
and toddling son to publish
our community’
s primary
source of information. Over
a farewell sheet cake and a soft drink, the
Sun’
s business editor directed those words
— boom — right between my eyes.
They were intended to be the ultimate
put-down. After all, reporters and editors
of “real” publications had no biases; they
called them as they saw them, and always
checked their personal opinions and
upbringings at the door. Right …
Many in the media profession continue
to refer to the Jewish News and other outlets
that serve ethnic/minority communities as
flaks, cheerleaders and lap dogs, viewing
the world through a fogged lens, one that
hopelessly obscures reality from their
respective communities.
Well, here are a few things I’
ve learned
over the years about the Jewish News and its
relationship with our community:
• The Jewish News IS an advocacy media
outlet. It advocates for the survival of the
Jewish people. Within that core definition,
there are many opinions on what survival
means, let alone how to do so. Those with
opinions? Some are religious and others
secular. Some are Zionists and others not.
Some are politically liberal and others
conservative. Some are from the “we”
generation and others are from the “me”
generation. Some are straight and others
gay. Some trace their ancestry to King
David and others are Jews by choice.
• The Jewish News must attempt to
reflect reality to earn and maintain trust
and credibility with you. Reality includes
mitzvah heroes in our midst and teen
depression and suicide. It includes spouse
abusers, child predators and passionate
young adults reconnecting to Detroit and
its people. It includes the wisest among
us — including World War II veterans and
Holocaust survivors, reminding us what
service, sacrifice and living are really all
about. It includes disagreements about
the politics of Washington, D.C., and
Jerusalem.
• The Jewish News continues to be a
willing and eager partner with Jewish
communal organizations and groups.
During my tenure, the Jewish News has
partnered with and supported literally
hundreds of Jewish communal groups
and causes with financial support, free
advertising space, cover-worthy stories,
articles and photo spreads. We are all vested
in making Detroit one of North America’
s
most admired Jewish communities.
However, dramatic changes are rocking the
media industry, including the Jewish News.
While combined digital and print media
platforms bring Jewish News content today
to more readers than at any time in our
77-year history, big data-driven Google and
Facebook have caused significant erosion of
the industry’
s traditional print-advertising
model and have helped to drive more than
2,100 newspapers across the country —
large and small — out of business.
Our valued and longstanding
community partners need to look at us
differently if we are to continue as a trusted,
independent, responsible community
advocate.
I ask these partners to invest in the
placement of results-oriented advertising
in the Jewish News and on our digital
platforms. Additionally, I ask for their
assistance in strengthening our connection
with your member bases. Please reach out
to me at ahorwitz@thejewishnews.com on
ways we can do so.
This, in turn, will better enable us
to meet coverage expectations of your
activities, events and the people leading
them, and continue to capture and share
the newest chapters in our community’
s
ongoing story … and yours.
Arthur
Horwitz
publisher’
s notebook
JN: Independent, Responsible
Community Advocate
“Our valued and
longstanding
community partners
need to look at us
diff
erently if we are
to continue as a
trusted, independent,
responsible
community
advocate.”
OUR JN MISSION:
We aspire to communicate news and opinion that’
s trusted, valued, engaging and distinctive. We strive to reflect
diverse community viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen Jewish unity and continuity. As an
independent, responsible, responsive community member, we actively engage with individuals and organizations
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, and Jewish life, in Southeast Michigan.
OON
ield MI 48323
ws.com
hvan 1 5780
Please contribute today by visiting
www.djnfoundation.org and clicking
on the Donate tab or mailing your gift to:
Detroit Jewish News Foundation
29200 Northwestern Highway #110
Southfi
eld, MI 48034
For more information,
or 248-351-5108