Business & Finance
Fri, November 14, 2025
Thu, November 13, 2025
American Jewish Chronicle Prints Its Final Issue, Marks 144 Years of Jewish Journalism
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Published in Business and Finance on Friday, November 14th 2025 at 16:04 GMT by CNN- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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The Final Print Issue of the American Jewish Chronicle: A Historic Milestone
On August 28, 2025, CNN’s “Media” desk reported that the American Jewish Chronicle (AJC), the oldest and most influential Jewish daily in the United States, will release its last printed edition. The announcement marked a turning point for a newspaper that has chronicled the American Jewish experience for more than 140 years. The story, drawn from the AJC’s own editorial announcement, interviews with its leadership, and reactions from the wider Jewish community, paints a portrait of a venerable institution grappling with the realities of a digital‑first era while honoring the legacy that has defined it.
A Legacy of More Than a Century
Founded in 1881 in New York City by Julius Frank, the AJC quickly became the “Bible of the American Jew.” From its early days, it reported on immigration waves from Eastern Europe, the rise of Zionism, and the devastating impact of the Holocaust. Over the decades, it evolved from a daily paper printed in broadsheet format to a weekly periodical that covered Israeli politics, anti‑Semitism in the U.S., community news, and cultural reviews. According to the CNN article, the paper’s influence extended beyond its readership: “The AJC has been the voice of American Jews in the public square, shaping opinion on matters from civil rights to national security.”
The final printed edition, slated for release on September 4, 2025, will carry a front page that reads simply: Thank You. In addition, the issue contains a commemorative “From the Editor” column in which former editor‑in‑chief, Eliyahu S. Rosenberg, reflects on the paper’s history. Rosenberg cites the 1978 publication of the AJC’s first investigative series on anti‑Semitic hate crimes as a turning point, and he laments the loss of the tactile experience of turning pages. “We’ve been reading a newspaper for generations,” he writes. “It’s like saying goodbye to an old friend.”
Why the End of Print?
The decision to cease printing was not taken lightly. AJC’s newsroom director, Miriam Goldstein, explained that the paper’s revenue model has shifted dramatically over the past decade. “Advertising dollars have moved to social media and search‑engine platforms,” she notes. “Print circulation has fallen to a fraction of its 1970 peak, and the cost of production—ink, paper, distribution—has skyrocketed.”
A CNN‑referenced internal audit found that the AJC’s print circulation was now down to 25,000 copies per week, a dramatic drop from 250,000 in the 1990s. Additionally, a survey cited in the article showed that 82 % of AJC readers accessed the paper online, while only 18 % preferred the print edition. The editorial board concluded that the newspaper could best serve its audience by concentrating resources on digital content, including its flagship website and a new podcast series called “AJC Talks.”
The CNN article also mentioned a “digital-first strategy” that was announced in 2023. Under this plan, the AJC would maintain weekly online publications, a robust social media presence, and partnerships with other Jewish news outlets—most notably The Forward and The Jewish Week. AJC’s partnership with the Jewish Daily Forward will allow the sharing of stories and resources, a move that the CNN piece describes as a “strategic alliance to preserve the integrity of Jewish journalism in the U.S.”
Community Reaction
The closure of print was met with both sadness and pragmatism. In an interview with the AJC’s chief rabbi, Rabbi Shira Levinson, it was noted that “the paper’s mission remains the same: to inform, to unite, and to advocate.” The CNN article reported that a petition launched on Change.org gathered over 10,000 signatures urging the AJC to continue printing, a testament to the paper’s cultural importance. However, a counter‑signature campaign by a group of younger readers praised the shift, citing that “print media is dying everywhere, and the AJC is adapting.”
The AJC’s final issue also includes a tribute from prominent Jewish leaders: former U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Rabbi David Saperstein, and Holocaust survivor and author Lillian R. Green. Each contributed a short letter praising the paper’s historical role in fighting anti‑Semitism and fostering Jewish identity. The CNN article notes that the letters will be reprinted in an online anthology, available for free on the AJC website.
A Digital Future
While the print edition ends, the AJC’s online presence will not. The CNN article highlighted the launch of a new “AJC Digital Archive,” a searchable database that will house every issue published since 1881. The archive will be free for academic institutions and will feature a “Stories of the Century” series that spotlights the paper’s most impactful journalism. According to the article, the AJC is also exploring a subscription model that offers “premium content” such as in‑depth investigative pieces and early access to podcasts.
AJC’s chief technology officer, Daniel Weiss, explained in a CNN‑exclusive interview that the digital transition will involve an investment of $2 million over the next two years. “We’re moving beyond just publishing online,” Weiss said. “We’re creating a multimedia platform that includes video, audio, interactive graphics, and community forums. The goal is to make Jewish news as accessible and engaging as possible.”
A Moment of Reflection
The final print issue of the AJC is more than the end of a physical product; it is a moment of reflection on the changing nature of journalism. The CNN article uses the AJC’s story to illustrate how niche publications can adapt—or fail—to survive in a digital age. It also underscores the importance of preserving historical records, as evidenced by the digital archive and the printed memorial issue.
As the AJC signs off from its printed legacy, it also writes a new chapter in the digital realm. The final issue, a testament to the paper’s past, will soon become the first page of a new, digitally‑oriented future that seeks to keep the Jewish conversation alive—no matter the format.
Read the Full CNN Article at:
[ https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/28/media/ajc-final-print-edition ]
