6 | JANUARY 23 • 2020 

Views

publisher’
s notebook

New Editor to Play Key Role 
in Jewish News Transformation
I

n recent months, I’
ve shared with you 
how the media industry is undergoing 
fundamental change. Since 2004, more 
than 2,100 newspapers have ceased to exist, 
with hundreds more expected 
to close their doors this year. 
Though not immune from 
these very troubling trends, 
your Jewish News has con-
tinued to try as best it can to 
meet your information needs 
as it transitions to a more sus-
tainable non-profit business 
model.
Today, more people are reading Jewish 
News content than at any time in its almost 
78-year history. That’
s because 
in addition to the readers of our 
print edition, our website, 
thejewishnews.com, and social 
media audiences continue to grow. 
With many media outlets now 
smaller and narrowly focused, the 
Jewish News provides a common 
thread of information — via print 
and digital — that still serves to 
bring us together.
With behemoths Google and 
Facebook slurping up more than 85 percent 
of all digital advertising globally — acceler-
ating the steep decline in print advertising 
revenue that serves as the historic financial 
backbone for newspapers — providing 
content that readers value is paramount. To 
put it another way, the Jewish News must 
credibly cover more stories that matter to 
you, provide them throughout the day for 
you to see on your phone and/or computer 
and package them (and other content) into a 
weekly printed product. In return, it will be 
essential that you value this content enough 
to pay for it.
On Jan. 27, the Jewish News will welcome 
a new editor, Andrew Lapin, to thoughtfully, 
holistically and purposefully expand and 
integrate our digital and print offerings and 
make our information even more valuable 
to you. He brings fresh eyes, energy, strong 
interpersonal skills and keen writing and 

editing capabilities to this, the Detroit Jewish 
community in which he was raised.
A rising star in the professional journal-
ism world, Andrew earned his bachelor’
s 
degree from the University of Michigan’
s 
Creative Writing program and his master’
s 
from the Medill School of Journalism at 
Northwestern University, with a special-
ization in media innovation and entre-
preneurship. He has spent much of his 
career researching and formulating digital 
strategies for mission-driven media. He has 
worked at many publications, including 
NPR, Current and San Francisco’
s KQED. 
Andrew will lead our dedicated editors and 
pool of veteran writers while also cultivat-
ing and developing new talent to 
meet your information needs. He 
represents an investment in our 
present and our future.
In the coming weeks, you will 
hear from Andrew directly — 
online and in print. Anchored by 
the Jewish News mission state-
ment, he will share with you an 
exciting vision for how we will 
better serve our community — 
and you. Expect to see Andrew at 
events, in coffee shops, attending synagogue 
services across the denominational spec-
trum … you might even see him giving out 
slices of seven-layer cake outside of your 
favorite gathering place as a way to meet 
you and hear your views on, well, practically 
anything.
Thank you for your continuing reader-
ship. Thank you for recognizing that the 
Jewish News and all legacy print media are 
confronted by severe financial challenges. 
Thank you for recognizing that subscription 
revenue and other forms of financial sup-
port from you, our readers, is essential for 
us to continue to serve our community. And 
thank you again for joining me in welcom-
ing Andrew as editor of the Jewish News. 

Andrew Lapin

Arthur 
Horwitz

guest column
Friendly 
Community?

There are issues of 
mobility and acceptance 
for the disabled.
I

n Metro Detroit live individuals with 
dementia, physical disabilities or cog-
nitive-challenging issues that limit one 
or more major life activities. These issues 
become a barrier to their ability to interact in 
the community.
Two examples: 
A person with a mild level 
of Down Syndrome was in a 
local restaurant waiting to be 
seated. People who arrived 
after she did were immediately 
seated while she still waited. 
She eventually became frus-
trated and just left.
A person with cerebral palsy wheeled 
into a store with her caregiver, looking for 
a blouse. They waited 45 minutes for assis-
tance. The caregiver said store personnel 
ignored them; no purchase was made.
The stigma associated with disabilities 
need to be addressed. Individuals with dis-
abilities want to be accepted and be able 
to receive respect, dignity and purpose in 
their surroundings. They want to live in a 
“disabled-friendly community,
” defined as a 
place or culture in which people with disabil-
ities are empowered, supported and included 
in society; a community where people walk 
toward individuals with disabilities, not away 
from them.
To make a community friendly is not an 
overnight accomplishment. It requires the 
involvement of the business sector, local gov-
ernment and those experiencing disabilities. 
The business sector and local governments 
need to increase awareness. They will need 
to train personnel on how to approach and 
service these individuals. 
 Organizations are available to assist in 
these efforts. The Michigan Department of 
Health and Human Services offers assess-
ment and improvement planning processes 
that helps makes communities more “friend-

Barry 
Kaufman

continued on page 10

