Letter for Jewish Journalism

Last year, I wrote a research paper for a Principles of Journalism class called Jews in the J-school. For a source, I wrote to Ralph L. Lowenstein, Dean Emeritus of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Florida. He has his Ph.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia (my current school). Here is what he wrote back: 

 ”As journalists, I think Jews have a special insight and empathy when writing about other minorities, whether they be black, Hispanic, Appalachian, etc.   That might be one reason why Jews often excel as reporters, and are certainly represented in the media in far greater numbers than their proportion of the population.

I think Jewish journalism is important because of our very tiny numbers in the general population.   We are only about 2 percent of the population of the United States.   Thus, one is unlikely to find a significant amount of news in the general media that keep us informed about topics of importance to our survival.  You will rarely find news of Jewish interest on the daily newspaper’s religion page, for example, or much news outside of daily Israeli-Palestinian violence in newspapers, radio or television.   Thus, we have to find that news in Jewish-oriented media, and only journalists involved in those media can deliver such news.  

More than half the Jewish families in America give nothing (zero) to federation campaigns each year.  About 80 percent of those who give contribute $100 or less.   It is important to maintain contact with Jews through our various media or support for Israel and support for Jewish institutions would be hurt even further.

 So journalism is not simply journalism.  We are already entering a specialized stage of journalism.   Mass media, as such, is drying up. We need Jewish journalists well grounded in Jewish history, Jewish religion and Jewish political science to keep us informed; we will not get such news anywhere else.”

   – Ralph L. Lowenstein 

Dean Emeritus – College of Journalism and Mass Communications

         University of Florida

Ph.D., University of Missouri – Columbia