The Jewish World of Albany, New York, has formed an alliance for enriched sales and marketing projects with Capital Region Independent Media (CRIM), which operates media companies including nine newspapers in the region.
Mark Vinciguerra of Clifton Park and Warren Dews Jr. of Hinsdale, Massachusetts, operate CRIM and NYVT Media, whose properties include the Granville Sentinel the Whitehall Times, Washington County FreePress, Lakes Region FreePress, The Ravena News-Herald, The Greenville Pioneer, The Columbia Paper, the Upstater.com, NYVTmedia.com, Community Guidebooks.com and dozens of magazines.
With systems for mixing print and digital advertising, CRIM is building sales of subscriptions and advertising for The Jewish World.
Family effort
Jewish World editor Laurie Clevenson, who has single-handedly managed the paper’s production since the death of founders Sam S. Clevenson in 2008 and Pearl G. Clevenson in 2011, said she looks forward to increased revenue for local reporting and making the paper’s graphic presentation more compelling.
James Clevenson, The Jewish World’s publisher, said he is delighted to work with seasoned, accomplished professionals, who can help boost the paper with contemporary techniques. He said, “The paper, founded in 1965, could not have continued without the efforts and sacrifices of my sister Laurie. She has filled in as we had to diminish staff – the success we have, and the pleasure we provide to readers, is due to her work.”
Clevenson added, “Joining a multi-news group will broaden the scope of content for our readers, and enlarge the profit potentials for our advertising customers, as we forge into new areas.”
Reaching more people
Dews noted that the reach of newspapers often exceeds the reach of TV news and radio stations, and newspapers are more often viewed as the most trusted sources of information.
“Our brands have been around for a very long time. All of these newspapers have been around for 50, 60, 100 and 200 years.” He said these newspapers continue their missions of keeping community leaders in check.
“We definitely bring communities together. We’re the watchdogs,” Dews said. “When a newspaper is not in the market, taxes go up, things in the community are not happening correctly and nobody is watching city hall. Our editors are veterans, and they’re here to make sure people tell the story and tell the true story.”
Adding a dimension
Vinciguerra and Dews, who have extensive experience developing audiences and advertising at numerous publications, said working with The Jewish World will add an attractive dimension to their readership.
Vinciguerra, whose career began at Syracuse and Pittsburgh dailies, was director of audience development at the Albany Times-Union, was publisher overseeing two dailies and five weeklies at Columbia-Greene Media, and is CEO of National Press Institute for Audience Growth. He and Dews also have ownership stakes in Wallit subscription management software.
Dews grew up in New York City, began his career at newspapers in Westchester and Asheville, North Carolina, Gannett papers in New York’s Southern Tier, and worked for New England Newspapers in Pittsfield. An officer of National Press Institute for Audience Growth, he also operates Dews Management, Inc., a talent and booking agency.
Cultural interactions
Dews, who this month received a master’s degree in theology, and Clevenson said they see opportunities for interfaith initiatives to help bring together people of differing faiths and backgrounds.
Clevenson said, “This is our bully pulpit from which we combat racism, antisemitism, and other forms of insanity. Most problems are rooted in delusion, and we can transform that with education.”
Businesspeople who would like to learn about the opportunities this partnership represents may call or email the publishers: Clevenson at 518-309-9138, Vinciguerra at 518-859-6353, Dews at 413-212-0130; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
For a comprehensive article on CRIM’s approach, from the Sept. 9, 2022, issue of Editor & Publisher, see editorandpublisher.com/stories/beyond-the-traditional-newspaper,239594.
