http://ajnwatch.blogspot.com/2009/09/editor-of-london-jewish-throwaway.html

I think it’s pretty clear now that the monopoly held by the AJN for a long time has not been helpful in cultivating diversity of opinion,

Turn it up, Larry.

Barely a week goes by without a letter by you, adjacent to one from Judy Bamberger, Vivienne Porszolt and a never-ending conga line of self-hating Jews, Israel bashers and extreme fringe dwellers, all kvetching that their views aren’t heard. Just like Antony Loewenstein (who has redefined “irony” having appeared in nearly every media outlet in the country, carrying on about how he is silenced).

If anything, their absolute minority views, receive a massively disproportionate airing, thanks to the AJN.

It will also read with more or less interest the odd bit of coverage of scandal in the courts, stresses in the jewish education system, the latest on Jewish births, deaths, marriages, and Australian/Jewish political system/personages interaction.

In other words, standard ethnic community newspaper fare – tabloidish, parochial commercial, social, cultural and sporting material.

Where the AJN has been remarkably disappointing is in its hard-faced denialism of complexities of Jewish identity, religious belief, and political diversity amongst Australian Jews with particular reference to the contradictions and complexities of Jewish nationalism in relation to global and middle-east (including Israeli-Palestine conflict) issue engagement.

It was sadly evident that the sportingly fair-minded (to the extent that a former sports editor turned AJN editor could continue to be so) Ashley Browne would run up against the Jerusalem Post-loving owner of the AJN who would be happy to see the Likud/Irgun/Labour militarist orthodoxy of Israel embraced as the pre-eminent beacon of security for Jews nervous about their place in the world.

Absolutely no need to even admit to any alternative possibilities. Simply give AIJAC its weekly column, extract large slabs of copy from the Jerusalem Post, publish press releases from the Israeli embassy,and showcase Michael Danby as local hero. The rest is spam or real estate.

Ashley did allow a variety of opinions in his letters columns and did at least try to be reasonably inclusive of the not too controversially border-line article. But it was not going to wash with the owner and his command of his property.

I predict the new editor will last perhaps 18 months and be a bit like the Jonathan Shier effect in the ABC during the Howard years – a dull flash in the same tarnished pan.

Les Rosenblatt.

Zeddy Lawrence, the editorial director of The Jewish News in Britain, has been appointed as The Australian Jewish News’ national editor. Mazeltov, and good luck to him and the AJN.

AJN publisher Robert Magid said: “We’re thrilled to announce Zeddy’s appointment. Zeddy’s experience working closely with the local Jewish community in England, combined with his knowledge of Israel, will see The AJN go from strength to strength.”

It is exactly what you would expect Mr Magid to say. But the question I ask is, how will his experience with the local Jewish community in England help the AJN in this country go from strength to strength? I hope Mr Lawrence learns the lie of the land down immediately, if not sooner.

It’s the local news stories and controversies that spark my interest.

I accept Morry’s point that the overseas content is of value to the elderly audience who do not read Israeli websites etc.

The problem is that if you lessen local content, young people are even less likely to buy it than currently.

I hope the Jewish “Blues” gets it act together and start publishing stuff one can get their teeth into and make it easier for me to leave a comment. I still can’t work it out.

PS The letters are the most important part.