Establishment of a public trust status for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency which will enable it to continue operating on a non-profit basis with the sole aim of providing objective news on all developments affecting the Jewish community throughout the world, was announced here today.
The J.T.A., founded 33 years ago, has functioned as a non-profit communal enterprise since 1935. Under the terms of its charter, no individual or stockholder has been entitled to draw profit from the enterprise which was operated as a public service. Reorganization measures, announced here today, ensure the continuance of this status.
Under the presidency of Rudolf G. Sonneborn, New York Jewish communal leader, a new Board of Directors of the Agency is now in process of formation. When completed, it will be composed of 25 members representative of the American Jewish community.
In addition to Mr. Sonneborn, those already serving on the new board are: Adolf C. Robison, vice-president; Jacob Landau, secretary; and George Alpert, Boston; A. Goodman, Miami; Professor Horace M. Kallen, New York; Benjamin A. Javits, New York; S.H. Scheuer, New York; Philip Slomovitz, Detroit; Robert Szold, New York; and Rabbi S. Wohl, Cincinnati.
Reorganization of the J.T.A. followed the action of Jacob Landau, founder and managing director of the J.T.A. since its establishment, in turning in to the treasury of the Agency all outstanding shares in the corporation. Individual shares are being issued to each new member of the board and a total of 25 such shares will be issued when the board is completed. Members of the board will hold these shares as public trustees. No other common shares of the corporation remain outstanding.
Foreign affiliates of the J.T.A. will be regrouped around the Palestine Telegraphic Agency with headquarters in Israel and an international board of directors. These offices will continue to receive the J.T.A. service.
At a meeting of the Board of Directors earlier this week, tributes were voiced to Mr. Landau for his years of effort in building and directing the J.T.A., developing it into a potent instrument for the community. It was announced that the J.T.A. had terminated its affiliations with other news agencies, and will, in the future, operate independently, developing its own outlets in the American press and radio fields.
PLANS FOR EXTENSION OF J.T.A. NEWS COVERAGE OUTLINED BY VICE-PRESIDENT ROBISON
Plans for extension of J.T.A. news coverage of the American Jewish scene were announced by Adolf C. Robison, Vice-president of the Agency. In a statement today Mr. Robison declared that the J.T.A. objective set by its board was to supply “the most objective, veracious and reliable reporting possible.
“The J.T.A. has a mission to perform as an honest reporter to Jew and non-Jew alike on developments of especial concern to the Jewish community,” he said. “The members of our board regard their duties in the light of a public trust and have set a very high standard as the J.T.A. objective. We will enlist top men in the profession to advise and consult on its operations. The new structure will, We believe, give the Agency added financial stability and assure its continued functioning as a news agency conscientiously serving the best interests of the community.
“An immediate step will be to strengthen and develop the Agency’s coverage of the American Jewish scene. This will enable J.T.A. to present a fuller picture of American Jewish life and developments for information here and for projection to other Jewish communities throughout the world. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency will also strengthen its position as the basic source of information on developments in and affecting Israel and will broaden the scope of its world news and coverage.”
Mr. Robison also announced the appointment of Victor M. Bienstock as General Manager of the J.T.A. Formerly a staff member of the New York World and New York Herald-Tribune and correspondent for the London Morning Post, Mr. Bienstock joined the J.T.A. in 1933 and was its chief of foreign service for ten years. He was a war correspondent in the Middle East and European theatres during World War II.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
