The Jewish Exponent

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The Jewish Exponent
What It Means To Be Jewish In Philadelphia
The November 27, 2007 front page of The Jewish Exponent
TypeWeekly newspaper
FormatTabloid
Owner(s)Mid-Atlantic Media
PublisherCraig Burke
Managing editorAndy Gotlieb
FoundedApril 15, 1887; 137 years ago (1887-04-15)
Headquarters7605 Old York Road

Suite #113

Melrose Park, PA 19027
CountryUnited States
Circulation24,000 (as of 2015)[1]
Sister newspapersThe Guide to Jewish Philadelphia
ISSN0021-6437
WebsiteOfficial website

The Jewish Exponent is a weekly newspaper of the Jewish community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the second-oldest continuously published Jewish newspaper in the United States.[2]

History

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The Jewish Exponent has been published continuously since April 15, 1887.[2][3][4] A predecessor newspaper, The Jewish Record, had been published since 1875.[3]

The paper was founded by 43 prominent Philadelphians—among them Henry Samuel Morais—who pledged that it would be "devoted to the interests of the Jewish people." It was an early supporter of Zionism. In the 1940s, the paper experienced financial difficulties, and on May 5, 1944, it was purchased by real estate magnate Albert M. Greenfield and turned over to the Allied Jewish Appeal, a precursor of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, which still publishes it today via the Jewish Publishing Group.[4][5]

In 1999, the Jewish Exponent launched its website. A totally re-designed website was launched in November 2012. The site contains timely news of a local, national, global and Israel nature, as well as blogs, special interest columns, classifieds, death notices and Mazel-Tov announcements. It is the home of the Jewish community events calendar with hundreds of events added monthly in a fashion that is searchable by event type, audience and location. The online guide to Jewish Philly provides a searchable method for the community to find out about every Jewish organization in the Delaware Valley, as well as businesses that wish to promote their products and services to the Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia.[6] The site also allows users to register for weekly email newsletters as well as engage with the Jewish Exponent via social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

On June 3, 2015, the Exponent laid off its entire editorial staff. Reports said that the paper had been losing $300,000 per year. The owners contracted with Mid-Atlantic Media to operate the editorial department of the paper. Mid-Atlantic is based in Baltimore and produces several other Jewish papers, including the Baltimore Jewish Times, Washington Jewish Week, and Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. Joshua Runyan, Mid-Atlantic's editorial director, was named the paper's new editor, replacing Lisa Hostein.[7]

On Feb. 28, 2022, the Exponent was sold by Jewish Publishing Group, a subsidiary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, to Mid-Atlantic Media.[8]

In July 2022, the Exponent moved its office and archive from 2100 Arch St. to Gratz College’s Melrose Park campus. The school announced plans for library staff to organize, digitize and share online the publication’s archives within the next year.[9]

In 2023, former director of business operations, Cheryl Lutts, was convicted of embezzling $1.4 million from the organization between 2014 and 2019.[10][5]

Circulation

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The current circulation is made up of direct subscribers and those who donate to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia. In 2021, the Jewish Exponent had a print circulation of 20,000 and a "digital audience" of 500,000 a year.[5] The paper had 40,000 subscribers in 2009.[11] However, when the paper celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1962, it had the largest circulation of any Jewish newspaper in the United States.[3] At the hundredth anniversary in 1987, the circulation was 65,000.[4]

Awards

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In 2010 and 2011, the Jewish Exponent was named "Best Overall Weekly Newspaper" in Pennsylvania by the Keystone Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.[12][13] In 2014, the Keystone Chapter awarded the newspaper first place for "Use of the Web Among Non-Daily Publications."[14] The Jewish Exponent was awarded one Simon Rockower Award by the American Jewish Press Association in 2019,[15] two in 2022[16] and another two in 2023.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Jared Shelly (2015-06-03). "Jewish Exponent Lays Off Editorial Staff". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  2. ^ a b "A Brief History". Jewish Exponent. Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Philadelphia's 'jewish Exponent' to Celebrate Its 75th Anniversary". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 30 March 1962. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Keating, Douglas (1 June 1987). "100 Years As A Voice Of The Jews Of Phila". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 16, 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Boigon, Molly (July 21, 2021). "After scandal, can the Philadelphia Federation's new CEO turn it around?". The Forward. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Friedman, Gabe (December 2, 2016). "Phoenix Jewish News signs over operations to media firm that runs Pittsburgh and Philly papers". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Guttman, Nathan (June 12, 2015). "What's Behind the Mass Layoffs at the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent?". The Forward. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  8. ^ Andy Gotlieb (2022-03-02). "Jewish Exponent Sold to Mid-Atlantic Media". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
  9. ^ Rogelberg, Sasha (2022-08-03). "Jewish Exponent Archives Find New Life At Gratz College". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  10. ^ Roebuck, Jeremy (July 25, 2023). "Former financial professional for Philly Pops and Jewish Exponent sentenced to prison for embezzling nearly $1.7M". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  11. ^ Shister, Gail (20 January 2009). "Redefining the Jewish Exponent A new editor brings a new approach". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  12. ^ Eden, Ami (April 23, 2010). "Exponent named best weekly newspaper in Pa". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Hostein, Lisa (June 28, 2011). "Philadelphia Exponent named best weekly paper in Pa". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Brodsky, Marc (April 29, 2014). "Jewish Exponent takes Web prize". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "AJPA - 2019 Competition". www.ajpa.org. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "AJPA - 2022 Competition". www.ajpa.org. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  17. ^ "AJPA - Winners List". www.ajpa.org. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
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39°57′20″N 75°10′31″W / 39.95560°N 75.17515°W / 39.95560; -75.17515

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