English-jewish Newspapers Assn. Hits “unethical Tactics” in Advertising Soliciting

The American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, in a strongly-worded statement released today, calls the attention of all American Jewish communities to “unethical and scandalous tactics” charged against a number of publications calling themselves “national magazines” in solicitation of advertising, and warns that continuation of such practices will harm the existing newspapers. In several instances, important national organizations which publish some of the guilty periodicals share in the accusations.

The publishers of newspapers affiliated with the American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers charge in their statement that national organizations have been “duped” by irresponsible solicitors to submit to a scheme which involves the clipping of advertisements from issues of English-Jewish newspapers–particularly holiday editions; the mailing of copies of such advertisements to the advertisers, giving the impression that they appeared in the columns of the magazines in whose behalf the solicitations are made; the attaching of a bill to the ads asking for immediate payment for them, in one case giving the advertiser five days in which to reject the ad, else making himself responsible for its use.

“These shocking practices have outraged not only Jewish advertisers but also non-Jews who have called our member newspapers to express their resentment,” the statement says. “One magazine was told by an advertiser that he is interested in supporting only the local newspapers. In many instances the attitude of ‘a plague on both your houses’ has resulted in direct harm to the English-Jewish weekly newspapers which are constantly called upon to render services to the very organizations which now seek to stab them in the back by their unethical practices.

“The American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers has made a sincere effort to avoid a scandal,” the statement continues. “We have called this matter to the attention of the National Community Relations Advisory Council, and we hope that the N.C.R.A.C. will be strong enough to solve this internal problem. We have prevailed upon our member newspapers not to turn the matter over to their respective Business Bureaus and to the U.S. Postal authorities. But we are forced to make this public statement in our own columns and through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in order that responsible Jews–advertisers and those who are concerned that the bighest Jewish ethical values should be enforced–should not be misled by irresponsible solicitors.”

The statement is signed by Philip Slomovitz, president of the Association and editor of The Detroit Jewish News; Elias Jacobs, publisher, Buffalo Jewish Review, and Jacques Back, editor, Nashville Observer, secretaries; Leo H. Frisch, publisher, Minneaplois Jewish World, treasurer; Robert S. Gamsey, editor, Denver Jewish News; Irving G. Rhodes, publisher, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle; A. Slabot, Jewish Ledger, New Orleans, La.; Myer Keleman, B’nai B’rith Messenger, Los Angeles. It also has the endorsement of seven other members of the Association’s executive committee and an additional 23 affiliated publishers.