Jewish News

Operations

The Jewish News is published in tabloid format and distributed free of charge. Published every Thursday, the paper provides a weekly mix of local, national and international Jewish news, opinions, features, sport and entertainment.

With a weekly distribution of 24,518 copies as audited by ABC for the period July to December 2016, the paper is the largest Jewish Newspaper in the UK by distribution. It is available at more than 230 points across the capital including synagogues, shops, schools, community centres and street stands, and it had reached its 1,100th edition. It is currently under the editorship of former Daily Mail journalist and The Jewish Advocate editor Richard Ferrer.

Ownership

In February 2020, the Jewish News, owned by property investor Leo Noe, and Jewish Chronicle, owned by the Kessler Foundation, announced plans to merge, subject to raising the necessary finance to support the merger. Combined, they print more than 40,000 copies weekly. In April 2020, The Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News announced simultaneously a creditors voluntary liquidation, citing the impact of COVID-19. The owners of The Jewish Chronicle then submitted a bid to the liquidators for its assets, intending to combine them with the Jewish News under the latter's editor. However, following the emergence of a rival bid for The Jewish Chronicle, The Jewish News announced that it had sufficient funds to operate as a going concern and would continue to be published.

In November 2020, it was announced that the newspaper was donated to the Independent Jewish Community News Foundation, the rebranding of an existing charity. The announcement said that the move "will see a seamless continuation of the editorial direction under the leadership of editor Richard Ferrer and news editor Justin Cohen, who also serve as co-publishers." According to the paper's website, since this time it was owned by the Jacob Foundation, formerly the Kessler Foundation. The Foundation's 2020 report described the Foundation's sale of the Chronicle, dispersal of funds to Jewish charities, and taking ownership of Jewish News:

Libel case

In February 2018, Jewish News lost a libel case brought by Baroness Warsi over allegations that she has sought to excuse the actions of Islamic State terrorists. The article, written by Richard Kemp, also claimed she had objected to action being taken against British Muslims who murder and rape for the group, which Warsi said was "untrue and offensive". Jewish News accepted that the article was false: it apologised and was ordered to pay damages of £20,000 and legal costs.

Israel policy conference

In June 2015, Jewish News co-organised a UK-Israel Shared Strategic Challenges Conference. Speakers at the day-long event in Parliament included then Israeli deputy prime minister Silvan Shalom, Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog, Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid as well as UK Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood and Charles Farr, the Home Office's counter terrorism chief.

References

References

1. "Jewish News owner gifts the title to charitable foundation".
2. "Product Page - ABC".
3. "What's the difference between readership and circulation? | National Readership Survey".
4. Ferrer, Richard. (9 April 2020). "Without the JN and JC, we'll all feel less connected". Jewish News.
5. (12 February 2020). "Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News announce plans to merge". The Jewish Chronicle.
6. (8 April 2020). "The Jewish Chronicle".
7. (8 April 2020). "Statement from the board of the Jewish News". Jewish News.
8. Waterson, Jim. (8 April 2020). "Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News to close and staff laid off".
9. Tobitt, Charlotte. (21 April 2020). "Jewish News back to 'business as usual' as Chronicle merger plan thwarted by surprise bid". Press Gazette.
10. Ferrer, Richard. (22 April 2020). "Jewish News is back, more energised and ambitious than ever". Jewish News.
11. Eisner, Jane. (22 June 2020). "The uncertain future of Jewish news media".
12. Tobitt, Charlotte. (12 November 2020). "Jewish News owner gives paper to charitable foundation".
13. "About Jewish News - Jewish News".
14. "THE JACOB FOUNDATION (FORMERLY THE KESSLER FOUNDATION) COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 30 SEPTEMBER 2020".
15. Mayhew, Freddy. (26 February 2018). "Baroness Warsi wins £20,000 libel payout from Jewish News over article suggesting she excused actions of ISIS terrorists".
16. "Fathom – JN-BICOM 2015 Conference".
17. "British government official: We oppose BDS".
18. "Pro-Israel British activists told to fight back on BDS".