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My Chanukah Wish List

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By Avi Frier - FJN Publisher

Alrighty, folks. I’m done beating around the bush. This week, I won’t be offering any advice that will enhance your life or that of your children. I won’t go on any tirades about outrageous Bat Mitzvahs, nor will I suggest that you take a moment to reflect on anything religious or patriotic. And I certainly won’t lecture you about the evils of selfish behavior.

Because today, faithful readers, it’s all about me. Me, me, me, me, me.

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You are now holding in your hands the 20th issue of the Florida Jewish News. While 20 issues might not seem like a lot to some of you, let me tell you what it represents to me:

It represents 20 sleepless nights (literally--the night we go to print each week, I don’t see my bed until at least 5:00 AM; in fact as I type this, it’s 6:20 and I’ve been at work for almost 24 hours straight). It represents 20 topics for Avi’s Corner (OK, 19 if you count Simon Mirsky’s relief pitch two weeks ago). It represents being 20 steps closer to creating the real Jewish newspaper that our community so desperately needs.

No one said it would be easy. And they were right. But despite the hard work, I’m truly loving every minute of it.

And the word on the street is that you are too.

Readers walk up to me in restaurants, in synagogoue, even in Publix to tell me how much they’re enjoying the Florida Jewish News. Just last week someone walked up to me in the Javits Center in New York City, and told me that this was the best free paper he had ever seen.

The best free paper.

The best.

Free paper.

Free.

Free, like a gift. Like air or water. Free, like so many things we often take for granted.

But Chanukah is now upon us, and I have a wish list for you. If you’re enjoying your weekly dose of whatever it is that makes you pick up this publication each week, I’m asking for a little something in return. A little something that will send a clear message that this paper is not just another freebie that you’ve taken for granted. And at the same time, it will ensure that you’ll always have this paper to read, week after week, month after month, year after year, for decades to come.

Since Chanukah brings with it (as we said last week) Eight Crazy Nights, I have Eight Crazy Wishes for you. If you can do all eight, I’ll be forever grateful. But if you just pick one or two, that’d be fantastic as well.

So here we go. It’s time for Avi’s Chanukah Wish List 2005/5766.Queue music.

1. Buy an Ad

Indeed, the most basic way to support any publication. If you have a business you want people to know about, give me a call! I’ll make sure we get your name out all over town. Call 954-987-2720 ext 18.

2. Buy something from an advertiser

Maybe you’re not in a position to buy an ad right now. But surely there’s something in this paper you can use. Pick up the phone and place an order; walk into their restaurant and have some lunch; pop into their store and buy something; tell them you found them in the Florida Jewish News.

3. Write a letter to the editor

Every single day, people express their opinions to me about different items that appear in the paper. Often it’s a compliment or criticism of Avi’s Corner. I ask them/beg them/ plead with them: “Put it in writing. Email it to me. Let’s get a dialog going.”

“Nah,” they say. “(Insert any lame excuse here).”

What they don’t realize is that it’s the dialog that will keep the readers coming back. And without your participation, there can be no dialog. Send your letters to editor@floridajewishnews.com.

4. Share the paper with a friend

The key to our continued success is the broadening of our readership. When you’re done reading, pass it along!

5. Sign up for our email list

You’ll get free offers and online updates. We’ll never share your email address with anyone, so you won’t get slammed with spam when you sign up. Point your web browser to http://www.jewishsouthflorida.com and use the newsletter signup form in the top right corner of the page.

6. Ask about it at school.

Will your child’s school permit us to send newspapers home with the kids every Friday? There are a couple that do already, but the more the merrier. Ask around, and let me know!

7. Help me find a sales rep.

Still looking. It’s straight commission, but there’s good money in it, so if you know of anyone with good people skills who needs a job, please put them in touch with me.

8. Let me know what I left out.

Not just from this list. From the paper in general. Some of the best new things we’ve added to the paper started as suggestions from readers. “Boy, it sure would be nice if the Florida Jewish News had _______.” Can you think of something to fill in that blank? Let me know what it is.

Did you find this column to be a tad self-serving? I can’t argue with that. But people need to be reminded every once in a while: Without your participation, all I’m doing is littering South Florida with 120,000 sheets of paper every week. Woodsy Owl taught me not to do that about 20 years ago.

Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to think about what you can do to support the Florida Jewish News. I pledge to continue to work as hard as possible, and to lose as much sleep as necessary to ensure that your efforts are not in vain.


Posted by Avi Frier - FJN Publisher on 12/23 at 01:00 AM • Hits: 902



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