Jewish Federation assumes Chronicle ownership
By Barbara Bayer
Contributing Writer
Steve Rose, owner of Rose Publications, is donating The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle to the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. The ownership change becomes effective Friday, Sept. 11. Now in its 100th year, The Chronicle has provided its readers with Jewish news and opinion from a variety of perspectives — local, regional, national and international — since January 1920. The paper is mailed to subscribers each week; current subscriptions will be honored.
“The Jewish Federation is thrilled to become the publisher of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle moving forward,” said Federation President & CEO Helene Lotman. “Sustaining and enhancing the community’s 100-year-old Jewish newspaper absolutely fits into our mission to sustain and enhance Jewish life at home and around the world.”
The Chronicle’s editorial staff — Editor Meryl Feld and Associate Editor Marcia Montgomery — will remain on board. Feld said, “It’s been an honor to work with and learn from Steve Rose,” and she looks forward to working with the Federation.
“It is difficult to express my gratitude for the opportunity Steve has given me,” Feld said. “His generous donation of the paper will ensure that The Chronicle can continue bringing our community together.”
With the editorial staff intact, Federation’s Lotman said readers should not expect to see any substantive changes in the newspaper in the near future.
“Our aim is to inform, educate and serve the community,” she said. “Federation leadership will be working with an advisory group, meanwhile, to consider long-term direction and strategy.”
Rose has been sole owner of The Chronicle since early January and served as co-owner for the previous 10 years when The Chronicle was owned by MetroMedia Publishers, Inc. The Rose family had also been an owner or part owner of The Chronicle from 1964 to 1998.
“We cannot begin to overestimate the positive impact The Federation’s resources will bring to The Chronicle and this whole Jewish community,” Rose said.
Lotman said Federation thanks Rose for his gift and “his trust in our organization.”
“We look forward to continuing to offer community news, features, announcements and more — giving Jewish families a place to see the faces and read the stories of the community.”
Jewish Federation Board Chair Michael Abrams added, “There are many ways to invest in the future of our Jewish community, and Steve is doing just that with gifting the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle to Federation.”
“A community news source has long been part of the fabric of our community, enriching our awareness, our discourse and our togetherness,” Abrams said. “We are proud to carry forward this vehicle and to ensure that this continues.”