Jewish Publishers Urge College Youth to Actively Participate in Jewish Journalism

The American Jewish Press Association, at its annual meeting here this weekend, adopted a resolution commending national Jewish organizations and the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds for the strong stand taken for a firm identification with youth efforts and pledged cooperation by all means to advance such activities. College youth especially were urged to play active roles in Jewish journalism and in advancing Jewish educational programs. In another resolution, the convention welcomed the cooperative efforts of liberal-minded leaders in the black community who rejected the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic actions of extremists. The latter were condemned as tending to divide the black and white communities with actions that are detrimental to America. The publishers appealed to the U.S. Post Office Department through the chairman of the Congressional Post Office Committee against further increases in Second Class mailing rights. The Association statement asserted that further burdens in postal rates will tend to endanger the future of American journalism, thereby negating the rights of freedom of expression. Jimmy Wisch of Dallas, Texas, was re-elected president of the Association.

At a meeting here organized by the CJFWF, a panel on communications composed of Philip Slomovitz, publisher of the Detroit Jewish News and vice-president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Abe L. Sudran, executive director of the Jewish Community Council of Essex County (New Jersey), and Al Blum, editor of the Pittsburgh Chronicle, outlined the needs of the press and its relationship to the Jewish community. Mr. Slomovitz stressed the need for an awareness of communal requirements and pointed to the future plans of the JTA for intensifying and widening of its services in this country and abroad. A start in this direction, he said, has been made with the initiation of a JTA apprenticeship program for young men and women interested in becoming involved in the field of Jewish journalism. Currently, there are five interns at the Detroit Jewish News, one with the Boston Jewish Advocate, one in the JTA’s Washington bureau, and one intern in the JTA’s national editorial office in New York.