Our relationship with The Forward over the years has been both competitive and collegial. We vie for many of the same readers and advertisers, yet we feel a bond and kinship with fellow journalists who care about Jewish life.
On learning that after 121 years The Forward will cease its print publications in English and Yiddish and significantly reduce its editorial staff, including its talented top editors, we were saddened though not surprised (See story here).
These have been calamitous times as many storied media organizations have gone under, faced with economic challenges and a younger generation raised on receiving news (and so much else) for free. Add to the mix an increase in the distancing of young Jews from religious and communal affiliations and you — make that “we” — must contend with convincing the community that applying a Jewish lens, in terms of history, heritage and values, to vital issues of the day can be informative and enriching.
The Jewish Week, far from immune to these challenges, informed our readers three weeks ago that we, too, face a perilous future. We are gratified for the early responses to our call for public support for the work we do now and hope to expand. And we are committed to continue to provide thoughtful, fair-minded journalism for a people whose history is rooted in open discourse and debate.
We tip our hat to The Forward, especially for its robust coverage of those who hold the levers of power in the Jewish world. Its financial troubles are yet another warning sign of the dangers not only to Jewish journalism but also to the community it serves.
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