Coronavirus: Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News to enter into liquidation

Management concedes that both newspapers ‘will not be able to survive the impact’ of Covid-19 outbreak

The Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News are to cease printing and enter into voluntary liquidation as a result of the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The London-based publications, which agreed to a merger in February, released a statement on Wednesday stating the liquidation could be finalised in the next two to three weeks.

Whereas other news outlets have opted to furlough journalists, the parent company for the two newspapers has conceded that neither “will be able to survive the impact” of the Covid-19 outbreak.

No announcement has been made about what will happen to the newspapers’ journalists, though the Guardian has reported staff are set to be made redundant.

“With great sadness, the board of the Jewish Chronicle has taken the decision to seek a creditors voluntary liquidation of Jewish Chronicle Newspapers Ltd,” management said in a statement.

“Despite the heroic efforts of the editorial and production team at the newspaper, it has become clear that the Jewish Chronicle will not be able to survive the impact of the current coronavirus epidemic in its current form.

“The liquidation is expected to be finalised in the coming two to three weeks and every effort will be made to ensure that the paper continues to be published over this period and the website continues to provide regular updates.

“The Kessler Foundation, owners of the Jewish Chronicle, are actively working to secure a future for the Jewish Chronicle after the liquidation.

“Further announcements regarding this will be made in the coming days.”

The Jewish Chronicle, first published in 1841, received new funding from the Kessler Foundation last summer. It later merged with rival title Jewish News in February in a bid to secure the future of the UK’s Jewish media.

Stephen Pollard, editor of the Jewish Chronicle, described the news as “devastating”.

“I won’t be saying anything beyond confirming that the paper will be out as usual next week, and we have every intention of avoiding any interruption,” he wrote on Twitter.

It was also announced on Wednesday the Newry Reporter, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest newspapers, was set to suspend print and digital editions due to coronavirus.

“The reality is that these are extraordinarily difficult trading times,” said editor Paul Welsh. “We are not the only local independent business in this situation and like so many others, will return as soon as it it possible to do so.

“I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all NHS and care staff working on the frontline during this Covid-19 crisis, often at great risk to themselves. Our thanks will never be enough.”

This comes as media analysts at Enders Analysis warned of a long-term blow to the British news industry as a result of the pandemic, predicting that as many as a third of journalists could lose their jobs.

Newsworks, the campaigning body for the UK newspaper industry, has meanwhile estimated that that UK newspapers could lose up to £50m in digital revenues due to advertisers using blacklist technology to block ads from appearing alongside coronavirus-related stories.