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

