The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles

The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, known simply as the Jewish Journal, is an independent, nonprofit community weekly newspaper serving the Jewish community of greater Los Angeles, published by TRIBE Media Corp. Its editorial stance is conservative.[2][3]

The Jewish Journal
of Greater Los Angeles
TypeWeekly newspaper
Owner(s)TRIBE Media Corp
PresidentDavid Suissa
Editor-in-chiefDavid Suissa
Editor
Founded1985; 39 years ago (1985)
HeadquartersLos Angeles
Circulation50,000; estimated readership of 150,000[1] (2016)
Websitejewishjournal.com

The Journal was established in 1985. As of 2016, it had a verified circulation of 50,000 and an estimated readership of 150,000; it is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City.[4][5] TRIBE Media Corp. also produces the monthly TRIBE magazine, distributed in Santa Barbara, Malibu, Conejo, Simi and West San Fernando Valleys.

History

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Though independently incorporated, the paper was initially distributed in part by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. The first issue appeared on February 28, 1986. The editor was Gene Lichtenstein, who served until 2000,[6] and the first art director was Katherine Arion, a Romanian-born artist who came to the United States in 1981.[7] After becoming completely independent from the Jewish Federation in 2005, it went through difficulties and its circulation shrank.

Circulation has recovered to 50,000 since then, and the paper has undertaken new initiatives, including expanded internet offerings, live events, a branding and marketing division, JJ Branding, TRIBE magazine, launched in December 2009, and Jewish Insider. The Jewish Journal, like other news media, faced financial pressures (cutting staff positions and salaries during 2009, though since it has resumed growth in both areas), but it strengthened its financial situation in May 2010, when it received commitments from a group of local Jewish philanthropists for additional funding intended to assure its continuing financial viability.[8]

In 2015, Tribe Media Corp. acquired Jewish Insider, a daily news service based in Washington, D.C. that was started by Max Neuberger.[9] In 2021, Jewish Insider acquired eJewish Philanthropy.[10][11]

From the mid-nineties, Rob Eshman was the editor-in-chief and publisher of the Journal.[12] He was succeeded by David Suissa in 2017.[12] Contributing writers include Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Karen Lehrman Bloch, Judea Pearl, Tabby Refael, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback, and Jonathan Kirsch, who also serves as Book Editor.[13][failed verification] Shmuel Rosner is Senior Political Correspondent.

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack, the issue of January 16–22, 2015 was renamed "Jewish Hebdo".[14][15][16]

Circulation, readership, and reception

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It received awards from the Los Angeles Press Club in 2005 and 2009.[17]

As of May 2016, the site reported about 4 million unique users per month.[8]

Suissa's tenure has been criticized for a move away from local reporting and towards a focus on commentary described as "disproportionately right wing".[3]

Awards

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The Jewish Journal received five Rockower Awards in 2021, and ten Rockower Awards in 2022, including six first places.[18][19] In 2023, the magazine was awarded 21 Rockower Awards.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles". Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America. Archived from the original on 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  2. ^ Zonszein, Mairav. "What happened to The Forward?". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  3. ^ a b Lapin, Andrew, JTA (2021-06-14). "New Jewish news site arrives in LA as frustration with Jewish Journal grows". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved 2024-08-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Quintanilla, Michael (July 13, 1995). "A Simpson Spin All Their Own Media: Papers Outside the Mainstream Don't Try to Compete with the Big Boys. Instead, They Look for the Angles Their Readers Care About". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on Mar 5, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  5. ^ "The O.J. Story Papers Find Ethnic Angles in Trial". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 18, 1995. Retrieved June 30, 2011 – via Newsbank.[dead link]
  6. ^ Tugend, Tom (June 29, 2000). "The Lichtenstein Formula for a Jewish Paper". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18.
  7. ^ Adler, Shelley (June 25, 1998). "Art Notes: The Artist Behind Our Cover". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2015-11-18.
  8. ^ a b Rainey, James (May 12, 2010). "On the Media: Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles Adapts to Changing Media Market: Niche Journalism and an $800,000 Donation Make Its Future Seem Secure". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27.
  9. ^ Tugend, Tom (January 26, 2017). "A Paper Evolves and Innovates". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Jewish Insider acquires eJewish Philanthropy". JNS.org. January 26, 2021. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  11. ^ JI Staff (January 22, 2021). "Jewish Insider Acquires eJewish Philanthropy". Jewish Insider. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Rob Eshman, Long-Time Jewish Journal Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, to Leave Post for Writing". The Jewish Link. 30 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Author Page: Rabbi Steven Weil". Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  14. ^ Eshman, Rob (January 16–22, 2015). "Nous Sommes Charlie: This Week We Are Jewish Hebdo". Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Archived from the original on 2016-09-19.
  15. ^ Roderick, Kevin (15 January 2015). "This Week the Jewish Journal Is Jewish Hebdo". LA Observed. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Rob Eshman, Long-Time Jewish Journal Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, to Leave Post for Writing". The Jewish Link. 30 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  17. ^ See, e.g., 2009 Southern California Journalism Award Winners Archived 2010-05-18 at the Wayback Machine and 2005 Southern California Journalism Award Winners Archived 2010-05-24 at the Wayback Machine at Los Angeles Press Club official website Archived 2010-05-14 at the Wayback Machine (accessed May 11, 2010).
  18. ^ "AJPA - 2021 Competition". AJPA.org. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  19. ^ "AJPA - 2022 Competition". AJPA.org. Archived from the original on 2023-09-22. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  20. ^ "2023 Awards (for Work Done in 2022)" (PDF). American Jewish Press Association. July 11, 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 14, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
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