Forward April 17, 2015

The Forward Association, Inc.

Samuel Norich Publisher & Chief Executive Officer

April 17, 2015

Dear Reader,

As we approach the 118th anniversary of the Forwards founding, Im proud to announce the most significant changes in our print and
online products since we began publishing a weekly newspaper in English, a quarter century ago. Next week you will see our fresh,
new look, both online and in print, a sweeping redesign to improve your reading experience. But this reboot is not merely aesthetic;
it reflects a fundamental shift in our understanding of how the American Jewish story is unfolding and how you our readers,
advertisers and donors use and interact with media now.
Before I get into the details, let me set the scene. When Abraham Cahan founded the Jewish Daily Forward on April 22, 1897, his readers
were the proverbial strangers in a strange land, struggling to learn a new language and to cope with a bewildering and volatile culture.
For decades, in myriad ways, the Forward helped Jewish immigrants to become Americans.
Although were still a small minority, Jews are hardly outsiders in America today. Were right in the thick of things, actively shaping
Americas economy, politics, language, culture and values. We struggle not for acceptance, but for meaning, for community, for a way
of being that reflects our history, our values, our tastes and our daily realities. Thats the heart of the Forwards mission now: to help
us connect with our Jewishness and with other Jews, to facilitate a conversation about how to fashion our increasingly complicated
families and uncertain futures in a personal and still distinctively Jewish way, to rediscover the sublime pleasures and profound
responsibilities of being Jewish.
Its clear that after all these years in the American melting pot, theres no one way. No rabbi or movement or newspaper can
(or should) decree who or what is Jewish, or more Jewish, or Jewish enough. There are many ways, and our role is to explore and
inform them. To ask questions. To listen. Its an approach deeply embedded in both our Jewish and journalistic roots, and its what
sets the Forward apart. Its why, more than two million times a month, someone uses our website, visits us on Facebook or reads
our weekly newspaper.
Some things we wont alter. The Forward will continue to shine a light on the institutions and individuals that constitute organized
Judaism, that represent and claim to represent us as a community. The Forward will continue to look at America and the world
through a Jewish lens, and to tell the ongoing American Jewish story in our many voices. The Forward will continue to set out a
splendid buffet of ideas and experiences books and film that engage our curiosity and challenge our intellect, performances and
art that expand our vision and lift our spirits, cuisine and travel that delight our senses.
So what is changing?
On all platforms, youll see a cleaner and bolder design. More art. Clearer fonts. Bigger photos. A logo and color scheme that honor
our heritage while shunning clichs.
On the web, youll find simpler, more intuitive navigation and more opportunities to interact and react. Were also incorporating
responsive design technology, which adapts each page to the screen youre viewing it on, so its beautiful and readable whether youre
using a smartphone, a tablet or a large monitor.
And speaking of beautiful and readable, our reimagined newspaper will remind you why we cherish the ink-on-paper experience:
A richer, brighter grade of stock. Easier to hold. More elegance. Less clutter. In short, a luxurious way to connect with ideas and events
while youre disconnected from the hubbub of the digital world, be it Shabbat or any other day.
I hope youll share my enthusiasm for these innovations, and I trust Ill hear from those of you who dont. Our goal is to help more
readers to discover and enjoy the Forwards unique take on news, culture and opinion, while preserving our legacy, reflected in the
new logo, as the gold standard of Jewish journalism.
Warm regards,

Sam Norich
The Jewish Daily Forward

Founded 1897

An independent, member-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit organization