The Chicago Jewish Star was an independent twice-monthly general interest Jewish newspaper based in Skokie, Illinois, and published from 1991 to 2018. It provided news analysis and opinion on local, national and international events of relevance to the Jewish community, with a focus on literature and arts, politics, and the Middle East. It was a continuation of The Jewish Star, a Canadian newspaper operated by the same principals from 1980 to 1990.
History The Chicago Jewish Star was founded in 1990 by Douglas Wertheimer, editor and president of Star Media Group Inc., and Gila Wertheimer, associate editor, with its first issue appearing February 22, 1991. It entered a Chicago Jewish newspaper field dominated by the Jewish Federation-run, controlled-circulation JUF News (founded in 1972), and the long-running independent weekly The Sentinel (founded in 1911)."'Chicago Jewish Star' Begins Publication," San Diego Jewish Times, March 14, 1991, p. 30; Editorial, "The Chicago Jewish Star," Intermountain Jewish News, March 15, 1991, Section A, page 28; Erin Alexander, Jeff Borden, Alex Chun and Lisa Collins, "Street Talk: A Star is born," Crain's Chicago Business, March 25, 1991, p. 10. The Jewish Star was the first new Jewish newspaper published solely for the Chicago area in nearly 75 years.In the period from 1918 – when the bi-weekly Chicago Jewish Chronicle first appeared (American Jewish Year Book, Volume 51, 1950. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1950, p. 492) – to 1991, there were several monthly or less frequently appearing Jewish publications, but no new newspapers. The National Jewish Post, of Indianapolis, began a Chicago edition edited by its Indianapolis editor, Gabriel M. Cohen, in 1953 (American Jewish Year Book, Volume 56, 1955. New York: American Jewish Committee, 1955, p. 552); see also Chicago Jewish Star, Feb. 22, 1991, p. 4.
The Jewish Star was the first Jewish newspaper in Metro Chicago to receive news by fax or electronically;Helen Davis filed reports to the Jewish Star on the Madrid Middle East peace conference by fax from Madrid on Oct. 29, which were printed for the next day's issue (Chicago Jewish Star, Oct. 31, 1991). The Jewish Star received material from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in New York electronically from its first issue in 1991 until the fall of 2010. the first to be distributed for free at locations throughout Metro Chicago; the first to be distributed via its own street corner news boxes"Boxes hit the street," Chicago Jewish Star, April 4, 1991, p. 24. or City of Chicago newspaper newsrack kiosks;"58 City sites for Jewish Star distribution," Chicago Jewish Star, May 12, 2017, p. 8. and the principals were the first to publish Jewish newspapers in both Canada and the United States.
After 27 years in print, the newspaper ceased publication with its May 2, 2018 issue.Robert Channick, "Chicago Jewish Star newspaper folds after 27 years," Chicago Tribune, May 8, 2018."Independent Chicago Jewish Star newspaper closes," Jewish Telegraphic Agency, May 7, 2018.
Editorial, Advertising, Circulation, Design Local news, editorial, advertising and design is generated mainly in-house, with additional news and feature contributions from syndicated columnists, news services and occasionally freelance writers. The editorial position has been independent; politically, its stance has changed on some issues. Following the signing of the Oslo Accords in Washington in 1993, for example, the paper remained cautiously optimistic about Mideast peace even in the face of Palestinian violence against Israel. But by 2007, it was in the camp of those who question the two-state solution.
A tabloid-sized newspaper ranging from 12 to 36 pages, it had a circulation at its launching of 10,000 copies,Chicago Jewish Star, Feb. 22, 1991, p. 1. rising to 20,000 in 1993Joel Kaufmann, "A new Star is shining on Chicago's horizon," Chicago Advertising & Media, Issue 85, April 16–30, 1993, p. 16. and 24,500 by 1996.Greg Hinz, "Pulp Friction," Chicago magazine, vol. 45, April 1996, p. 26. The paper is available free for pick-up at locations throughout Metro Chicago, by mail subscription and in an email PDF edition (since December 2008). Its masthead was designed in 1990 by Chicago graphic artist Gerry Kalvelage of BBDO, and includes the newspaper's motto "Useful Information Faithfully Recorded" (a loose translation from the Hebrew of Ecclesiastes XII:10).Chicago Jewish Star, March 19, 2004, p. 15.
Awards In the annual Chicago Headline Club-sponsored Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism competition for work done in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016, the Jewish Star was a Finalist for Best Editorial Writing."2009 Lisagor Finalists announced," Chicago Headline Club. Accessed May 5, 2013."Congrats to our Lisagor Finalists!" Chicago Headline Club, March 19, 2014."And the Lisagor finalists are…" Chicago Headline Club, April 12, 2016.Ben Meyerson, "These are your 2017 Peter Lisagor Award finalists," Chicago Headline Club, April 6, 2017. In the Lisagor competition covering 2012, the Jewish Star won awards in its publishing category for Arts Reporting, Political and Government Reporting, and Editorial;"Chicago Headline Club Announces Lisagor Award Winners," Chicago Headline Club, May 3, 2013. and had eight Finalist citations in six entry groups (Design, Political and Government Reporting, Editorial, Sports, Arts, In-Depth Reporting)."Congratulations to our Lisagor Finalists!" Chicago Headline Club. Accessed May 5, 2013.
In the Lisagor competition covering 2011, the paper won the award for Best Arts Reporting and Criticism;"Congratulations to our 2011 Lisagor WINNERS!" Chicago Headline Club, May 4, 2012. and had two Finalist citations in the Arts Reporting entry group.Chicago Jewish Star, April 6, 2012, p. 3. In the competition covering 2010, it received awards for Best Arts Reporting and Criticism, and Best Newspaper Design;"Chicago Headline Club Announces Winners of Peter Lisagor Awards," Chicago Headline Club, 2011. and a total of five Finalist citations in four entry groups (Editorial, Arts, In-Depth Reporting, Design).Chicago Jewish Star, May 6, 2011, p. 12.
Controversies and Issues
First Amendment rights and newspaper distribution After World War II, newspapers had increasingly relied on distribution of single copies from news boxes on public streets (a right recognized by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1988 in City of Lakewood v. Plain Dealer Publishing Co.).Chicago Jewish Star, July 15, 1994, pp. 1-2. Nonetheless, the practice was challenged by some municipalities.Lawrence R. Levin, "News media must meet challenge of newsbox regulation," Editor & Publisher, Sept. 21, 1991, p. 28. The Jewish Star began distributing its free newspaper in its own street-corner news boxes (also referred to as news racks, honor boxes or vending machines) in March 1991,Chicago Jewish Star, March 8, 1991, p. 3. the only Chicago Jewish newspaper ever to do so.
In January 1992, the administration of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley began a program to have newspaper publishers voluntarily re-align their multiple news boxes along North Michigan Avenue;"For Immediate Release: City Cleans Up North Michigan Avenue Vending Machines," Chicago Department of Planning and Development (press release), Jan. 11, 1992. at the time, Chicago was typical in having no permit or licensing requirements concerning the placement of news boxes.Letter, Thomas Smith, City of Chicago Planning Department, to Paul Wertheimer, Chicago Jewish Star, Aug. 17, 1992. A few months after the Chicago beautification program was launched, the Jewish Star complained to the city about mysterious damage to its news boxes. "If you have any evidence that this damage was caused by an employee of the City of Chicago," the city advised, "the City Department of Law would be happy to review it." The news box "clean up" soon expanded to other downtown Chicago areas,Robert Davis, "City again seeking to put tighter lid on newspaper box clutter," Chicago Tribune, April 6, 1994, sec. 2, p. 4. and the Jewish Star continued to encounter unauthorized movement of its news boxes.Other newspapers had similar problems, and complained to their city alderman; Edward R. Allen, "Ward crews grab free papers' boxes," Skyline, May 6, 1993, sec. 1, p. 3. The Jewish Star maintained a surveillance of its news boxes, and on the night of June 22, 1994, photographed a City of Chicago Streets and Sanitation employee using bolt cutters to slice through the chain on a legally positioned Jewish Star news box at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street, and then moving it.The photograph was reproduced in D. Wertheimer, "On Chicago streets, free speech succumbs to 4' long bolt cutters," Chicago Jewish Star, July 15, 1994, p. 1 (b&w); Mark Fitzgerald, "Refusing To Get With The Program", Editor & Publisher, Aug. 6, 1994, p. 16 (b&w); Joel Kaufmann, "Jewish Star newspaper boxes under siege on Chicago streets," Chicago Advertising & Media, Sept. 1-15, 1994, p. 1 (color); and reported on by Jean Davidson, "Strength in numbers," Chicago Tribune, July 22, 1994, sec. 5, p. 2; The photograph is discussed in more detail in Douglas Wertheimer, "The Star vs. the City," Chicago Jewish Star, April 12, 2013, p. 11.
The Jewish Star enlisted the support of local city aldermen, an Illinois state senator, the Illinois Press Association and the American Civil Liberties Union in protesting what it termed "a blatantly illegal act." The city claimed that "no City employee has removed or destroyed any Chicago Jewish Star boxes or newspapers."Letter, Susan Haerr Zucker, Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago to Jane M. Whicher, ACLU Chicago, Aug. 15, 1994. Writing on behalf of the Jewish Star, the ACLU responded: "For your information, the Star has a photograph of a City employee, who was driving a Streets and Sanitation truck, in the process of removing the box in question."Letter, Jane M. Whicher, ACLU to Susan Haerr Zucker, City of Chicago, Aug. 18, 1994.
In September 1994, a Jewish Star news box on the near north side of Chicago was blown up;"Jewish paper's box target of blast," Chicago Tribune, Sept. 3, 1994; "Police Blotter," Skokie Review (Pioneer Press), Sept. 8, 1994, p. 8; "Chicago Jewish Star newsbox vandalized," Editor & Publisher, Sept. 17, 1994, p. 33; D. Wertheimer, "Stars are blown-up and stolen, but a City meeting provides some promise," Chicago Jewish Star, Sept. 23, 1994, p. 1. a few days later, the Jewish Star and two politicians met with a top city official,Michael Laff, "News box dispute with City may end," Chicago Jewish Star, Sept. 23, 1994, p. 1. and shortly thereafter resolved the dispute.Karen Bennett, "Dispute with city over newspaper boxes resolved", Skokie Life, Sept. 22, 1994, sec. 1, p. 5; D. Wertheimer, "City, Star settle news box dispute," Chicago Jewish Star, Oct. 14, 1994, p. 3. After the refusal of its offer of a cash settlement for damages to Jewish Star news boxes,"'Is cash in an envelope enough?'", Chicago Jewish Star, Aug. 19, 1994, p. 2. the city paid the requested amount of $1,600 to the Jewish Star.Mark Fitzgerald, "Chicago Jewish paper settles newsbox dispute," Editor & Publisher, Oct. 8, 1994, p. 32.
In the ensuing years, the city adopted an ordinance restricting news box placement.Mark Fitzgerald, "Chicago Publishers Howl As City Imposes Rack Law," Editor & Publisher, April 18, 1998, p 24. At that time, the Jewish Star criticized the Daley administration for considering news boxes no more than "visual clutter," and fellow newspaper publishers for failing to fight the city on First Amendment grounds.D. Wertheimer, "Shop Talk at Thirty: Ill Winds Blow Over Windy City News Racks," Editor & Publisher, August 29, 1998, p. 56.
Journalistic ethics