A new Israeli afternoon newspaper, Hadashot (News), made its appearance on newsstands today, amid protests and demonstrations by journalists and printers.
The 32-page tabloid, published and owned by the Shocken family, owners and publishers of Haaretz, is the first daily paper to use color photographs on nearly all its pages. It will compete with Maariv and Yediot Achronot.
The Israel Journalists Association objects to the new publication because its publisher, Amos Shocken, has refused to sign the collective labor contract with the Association, insisting, instead, on personal contracts with each staff member. The Association claims this will lead to loss of individual freedom of expression by journalists. The paper is edited and printed in premises away from the main Haaretz operation.
When the first issue was published today, journalists and pressmen massed outside the building were Hadashot is published, preventing its delivery. The publishers summoned a helicopter which landed on the roof of the building and flew copies away for distribution to news stands.
At the request of the Journalists Association, Israel Radio barred its entire news staff from participating in the new newspaper, which had hoped to recruit staff from the radio and television newsrooms.
Haaretz experienced problems some months ago when its printers sought to prevent the introduction of new offset printing and electronic tape typesetting. Hadashot may afford the Haaretz publishers a means of circumventing any further shutdowns due to internal opposition in the future.
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