Genre Wire Service Headquarters Boston, USA | Founded 2011 Website www.jns.org | |
Type international news agency serving Jewish community newspapers and other media outlets Key people Russel Pergament, Publisher
Jacob Kamaras, Editor-in-Chief | ||
JNS.org is an independent, non-profit wire service covering Jewish and Israel news for the English-speaking world. The organization covers Jewish news from communities throughout the U.S., Europe, Israel and more.
Contents
JNS.org's news briefs and features covering the latest news on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world are regularly sent to more than 100 leading newspapers and websites, and have appeared in major Jewish, Christian, and secular publications including The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, The Jewish Press, The Christian Post, The Christian Examiner, The Baltimore Jewish Times, The Jewish Journal, The Algemeiner and others.
Publisher Russel Pergament has participated in the launch of 17 weekly newspapers, 3 daily newspapers and other specialized wire services. Karen McDonough serves as Editor-in-Chief, and the organization is currently based in Boston, MA.
Mission
The news service was launched in September 2011 with the self-described mission "to protect and enhance print newspapers’ historic role on the front lines of Jewish media." JNS.org adds to its coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other news from Israel with an exclusive agreement to distribute coverage from Israel's largest-circulation daily, Israel Hayom, a free Israeli daily owned by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and known for its support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson’s family foundation is the largest single funder behind JNS.org. The Adelson Family Foundation has committed at least $1.2 million. In addition to news, according to its website, JNS.org offers cultural articles, commentary, and editorial packages focused on themes such as Jewish wedding traditions, Bar Mitzvah celebrations, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and other Jewish holidays and themes.
Mobile App
JNS.org announced the recent launch of its mobile app for Apple's iOS and Google's Android platforms. According to a press release by JNS.org, the launch of the mobile app is an attempt by the news service to tap into the growing trend of accessing news digitally, especially among younger people. The mobile app features a "clean, streamlined, and easy-to-navigate design" that allows news consumers "to access the latest developments updated in real-time."
Political Leaning
At least two of three of JNS's board members are involved with conservative organizations. Their small board of directors includes Joshua and Amelia Katzen along with the publisher, Russel Pergament. Joshua Katzen sits on the boards of CAMERA, a pro-Israel media watch organization, and the Middle East Forum, a conservative think tank. In addition, he is President of REPORT, which was previously American Friends of NGO Monitor. Some say the content on JNS have a conservative leaning. However, the article goes on to quote Russel Pergament as writing “JNS is a nonpartisan, objective, straight down the middle newswire with no axe to grind except one: to see that Israel gets a fair shake in the news,”