You may not see a difference in your Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, but after 87 years of publication, the ground has shifted beneath us. And, unlike most news about print journalism, this earthquake is good news.
Last month, the executive committee of our publisher, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, approved a measure to expand distribution of The Chronicle to the entire state Jewish community. That proposal was approved by the federation’s board of directors at its June 24 meeting.
The bottom line is this: Beginning in mid-August, The Chronicle will be sent to approximately 8,000 homes around the state, drawing from the federation’s database. It will also be delivered weekly to drop-off points in the community.
This move makes a strong statement about the importance of The Chronicle as our newspaper of record and as a tool to build community, to enrich Jewish life and to draw local Jews closer to one another.
Equally importantly, it may help save The Chronicle from the fate of some of its sibling American Jewish newspapers.
Just within the last year, the Jewish press has lost three publications. Last week, the Atlanta based magazine, American Jewish Life announced that it is closing after seven years of publication. The Florida Jewish News folded last October after a decision to halt print production and a failed attempt to survive as a Web-only publication.
Last August the suburban New York monthly, the Westchester Jewish Chronicle, published its last issue. One of the newspaper’s four owners said that the paper was no longer financially sustainable.
We face particularly Jewish problems. Many people don’t read Jewish newspapers until midlife, just as they may not affiliate with synagogues and other Jewish organizations until their children begin to ask questions.
And we face the struggles that are common to all newspapers. Younger readers are choosing the Internet and social networking. Many prefer the “honest” subjectivity of a variety of voices in blogs and grassroots coverage over more traditional journalism.
But crisis can lead to innovation. We are now faced with the blessed challenge of creating new paradigms and discovering new opportunities.
The Chronicle is working to navigate those changes and build new models for publication, communication and media. Some features of our journey ahead include:
• Web site: In May, we transformed our Web site, www.jewishchronicle.org, from a static site that was updated weekly to a modern, attractive, interactive and up-to-the minute daily news source. It is a portal into the state Jewish community and a portal out to the global Jewish world.
The new site allows and encourages greater reader interaction: Vote in our weekly reader poll; comment on articles or send them to a friend; change your address; communicate with Chronicle staff and more.
Visit the site. Make it a favorite. Send us your ideas, thoughts and feedback.
• Web site, phase II: This summer, we will begin to add more interactive features to the site to build opportunities for social networking, online discussions and blogs.
• E-news alerts: With e-news alerts, sent weekly or with breaking news, Chronicle readers can get the news one day early. These alerts let you choose how you receive your news and give you one more avenue of communication with us.
• Long-term evaluation: We are now beginning a systematic review of the paper, which will include a hard look at its efficacy as a communication medium and how it might serve the community better. Those discussions will review The Chronicle’s editorial content, graphics and design, publication frequency and an array of business issues.
This process is a chance for us to look at ourselves with fresh eyes, to face change boldly and to choose innovation and invention. We are committed to listening and growing as we aspire to create the best possible publication for our community.
• Reader input: We are developing more ways to hear from you and integrate your contributions into the paper.
At The Chronicle, we are excited to discover and rediscover this publication’s potential and its role in the community, while continually aspiring to high levels of journalism. We aim to celebrate the community and to hold up a mirror to it, informing, spurring to action and affecting change.
Since I’ve been editor, I’ve tried to uncover and print the stories of the quiet members of our community, of regular people who do extraordinary things. Our staff has worked to publish stories of interest not only to top donors or Jewish community insiders, but to all of us.
This August, when The Chronicle reaches so many more homes in our community, we will continue to work to make this Jewish community newspaper a publication for and about our entire community.
With increased circulation, we are hoping for a parallel increase in advertising sales and, by extension, more pages to fill with relevant and high-quality content.
We hope you’ll join us by sharing your news with us, contributing to the community conversation and expressing your opinion on our op-ed pages. And don’t forget to tell all your friends.
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