New logo, new website for Jewish News

For the first time since Jewish News created its website in 2012, we’ve built an all new, easy-to- navigate site with loads of information that is both timely and that dates to the 1940s. The address remains the same: www.JewishNewsVa.org.

When the site was first built, it was cutting edge. But like all computer software, web programs don’t always age well and then fail to function properly as they interface with newer software systems. Knowing Jewish News needed a facelift as well as general systems check, we contracted with Mike McMahon of McMahon Creative and John Woodstock of UserX to make the changes. The process took several months. Mike McMahon is the paper’s art director.

JewishNewsVa.org now offers everything it did before, plus more. Visitors to the site can quickly find a digital “flip” version of the current paper, as well as a link to digital versions dating to 2012. The latest articles can be viewed immediately, and older ones are easy to locate. Topics and authors are linked, and everything is searchable. Plus, photos are larger.

A few other highlights include:

The Hal Sacks Jewish News Archives
Take a trip down memory lane or look up specific historical moments in Jewish Tidewater by visiting The Hal Sacks Jewish News Archives. Browse or search through papers since 1947. A note of warning: Be prepared to spend some time in this section of the site as previous visitors here have been known to start reading and then wonder where the afternoon went.

Donate
We’ve made it as easy as possible to make a contribution to Jewish News in honor or memory of someone, as well as to just donate to the paper’s operation. The Donate Now button is in the top right corner on the home page. Cards are sent to let a recipient know a donation has been made and donations are periodically acknowledged in the paper. All donations are appreciated!

Deadlines
Readers often call or email to inquire about deadlines for submissions. They can be found under Advertise at the top of the homepage or under Schedule at the bottom of the page.

Contact
Here, readers can email the staff and see the Letter to the Editor policy.

Up-to-the minute news
Jewish News subscribes to JTA for our national, global, and cultural arts articles. The site now features a feed directly from JTA where the latest headlines can be seen and accessed.

In addition to being more user-friendly, we hope the site is also more interactive – that you, the reader, will contact us with inquires, as well as queries.

Altering a logo is not something to take lightly, but as long as Jewish News was updating our website, this seemed the most appropriate time to give the logo a fresh look. The new version is contemporary, welcoming, and strong – conveying to readers that Jewish News’ delivery of the news is a serious and lasting business.

Whether the newspaper or the website, it’s all about getting the details right and making it readable. We strive to achieve those goals with each issue and with each article we place on the site. We hope you’ll spend a few moments at JewishNewsVa.org and maybe even bookmark it for quick access – after all, you never know when you’ll want to do a little research on Jewish Tidewater or share an article with a friend.

Happy reading!