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July 15, 2005
With honor and pride
Former JWB owner shares his belief in the paper.
KYLE BERGER
I was 24 years old in the spring of 1999 when Pat Johnson, Cynthia
Ramsay and I formed a partnership that would eventually mean full
ownership and responsibility of the Jewish Western Bulletin.
I realized that we had become a part of Vancouver Jewish community
history. One of my favorite in-office pastimes was flipping through
the thick binders that held a copy of every issue of the JWB
that existed since the paper was born under the JWB name
in 1930. This was an exercise that reminded me of the fundamental
principals the three of us based our business plan on while we were
younger and, dare I say, naïve to a lot of the realities that
would smack us in the face in the years to come.
We held an incredible amount of belief in the value of the JWB
and the need for it to maintain its uniquely independent voice.
We supported staff members who had more than 10, 15, even 25 years
of service with the paper when we took over and many of them are
still there today. This is a staff who are equal to the task in
their belief in and commitment to the JWB. This, despite
being surrounded by what seemed like constant doubt, skepticism
and occasional bouts of aggression from readers.
Newspapers always hear the voices of the frustrated more than the
satisfied – and we found ourselves forced to rely on the concept
that every subscription renewed without a complaint was another
satisfied customer. It was often the only pat on the back any of
us received for our most sincere efforts.
As stability became slightly less than a distant dream, both Johnson
and I stepped aside as shareholders of the paper to pursue other
interests. However, though we have disconnected ourselves from the
company financially, neither of us has ever considered disconnecting
ourselves physically or mentally.
We both know that in the JWB, under the leadership of Ramsay
and the staff, there is an opportunity to be part of a voice that
can speak to everyone with honor and respect – a rarity, it
seems, when it comes to the media. We are endlessly proud of what
the JWB stands for.
As the paper prepares to change its name and sculpt out its next
75 years, Ramsay will continue her battle to provide that independent
voice for the Jewish community of Greater Vancouver. She will support
the principals of free speech, open discussion (albeit with some
distant limits) and education. She will challenge the institutions
and organizations around her to uphold the same level of honesty
and fairness.
There is no secret to Ramsay's mission when it comes to each week's
publication of the paper. She takes an immense amount of satisfaction
in providing an opportunity for the community to feel that it has
a voice – a voice that bridges the distance between us all,
a voice that teaches, a voice that welcomes everyone to consider
what their own voice could be.
With the bar already set high, as the JWB surpasses its 75th
year, I look forward to continuing my involvement with the paper
for many years to come. Some of my proudest accomplishments have
come through my work with the JWB and I consider it a privilege
and an honor to fill some of this space every week.
Thanks for reading for 75 years.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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