Kaylene Ladinsky is a trailblazing leader whose journey exemplifies the power of vision, resilience, and community engagement. As the President, Editor, and Managing Publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Kaylene has transformed the publication into a cornerstone of the Jewish community in Atlanta, fostering connections and amplifying voices through her dedication to journalism and philanthropy. Her career is marked by a profound commitment to uniting diverse communities, advocating for Israel, and championing causes that inspire change. With a background in corporate mediation and a passion for service, Kaylene’s leadership is driven by her ability to adapt, innovate, and empower those around her. Her story is one of personal evolution and professional excellence, making her a true visionary in her field.
From Mediation to Media
Kaylene Ladinsky’s journey to becoming the Managing Publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times is deeply rooted in her unwavering commitment to serving her community and fostering unity. Her inspiration stems from her profound involvement in Americans United with Israel, a nonprofit she founded that brought together diverse Jewish denominations—Orthodox, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform—and even Christian allies to stand united in support of Israel. Witnessing these diverse groups and their families come together was an emotionally moving experience that solidified her passion for community mediation.
With a remarkable 17-year career in corporate mediation, Kaylene’s transition into publishing felt like a natural progression. After taking five years to focus on motherhood and volunteering at food shelters and schools, her dedication to philanthropy never waned. Her experiences during this period reinforced her drive to connect and uplift the Jewish community through meaningful initiatives. Starting at the Atlanta Jewish Times as a business manager 14 years ago, Kaylene embraced every challenge, wearing multiple hats and steering the publication towards growth and success.
Ultimately, Kaylene’s decision to step into the role of Managing Publisher was motivated by a desire to bring her community closer, ensuring that the Jewish community remained connected and empowered. Her journey reflects her unique ability to blend compassion, leadership, and innovation, making her an inspiring force in both journalism and community building.
The Media House
The Atlanta Jewish Times has a storied legacy of fostering connections and serving Jewish communities, marking its Centennial 100th year of impactful journalism. Catering to the entire Southeast of the United States, the publication shines a light on issues affecting Jewish communities while providing a platform for meaningful dialogue and engagement.
Under the leadership of Kaylene Ladinsky, the publication has embraced new avenues to foster a sense of unity and celebration. Beyond reporting, the Atlanta Jewish Times has actively contributed to community-building initiatives through events such as the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival at the Georgia Aquarium and the Atlanta Kosher BBQ. These occasions bring thousands of individuals together, introducing them to local nonprofits and encouraging communal participation. The paper also recognizes young talent and leadership through initiatives like the “18 Under 18” and “40 Under 40” awards, spotlighting the contributions of those shaping the future.
Kaylene’s vision as Editor, Managing Publisher, and President has been pivotal in diversifying the paper’s representation. Her commitment to showcasing the vibrant faces and stories within the Jewish community ensures that everyone’s voice is heard—be it through smaller acts of kindness or major achievements. The Atlanta Jewish Times stands as a bridge, connecting people and celebrating the individuality and collective strength of the Jewish community. Its services and initiatives remain steadfast in nurturing bonds and creating a thriving, united community.
Navigating Challenges with Leadership and Vision
As Managing Publisher and Editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Kaylene Ladinsky faces a unique set of challenges, including fostering balanced content, addressing antisemitism, and adapting leadership to evolving workplace dynamics. Her commitment to bipartisanship is a cornerstone of her editorial decisions, ensuring a balanced representation of perspectives on sensitive political topics. Kaylene emphasizes the importance of original content, making sure that every story printed in the paper is thoughtfully crafted to maintain the publication’s integrity.
Antisemitism remains a significant issue, and while Kaylene works closely with security agencies to address these concerns, she remains undeterred in her mission to serve the community. Additionally, staffing presents its own set of challenges in a post-pandemic world. Under the mentorship of Michael Morris, Kaylene has shifted her management style from micromanagement to a more empowering approach. By encouraging her team to take ownership, make mistakes, and grow, she fosters a professional environment rooted in mutual respect and collaboration.
Her leadership philosophy focuses on mentoring and inspiring her team rather than imposing outdated managerial practices. By adapting to the needs of her staff and maintaining a shared vision, Kaylene has cultivated a “professional family” atmosphere at the Atlanta Jewish Times, ensuring its continued success and positive impact on the community.
Embracing the Digital Age
The Atlanta Jewish Times has seamlessly embraced the digital age while preserving its deep-rooted traditional values, creating a unique blend of modern accessibility and timeless community engagement. Its website, recognized as one of the best Jewish platforms in America, serves as a vital tool in connecting the Jewish community. With daily updates, the website offers dynamic content, from breaking news to feature stories, ensuring readers are always informed while delivering fresh perspectives beyond widely covered mainstream news. In addition, the publication runs three newsletters a week, further extending its reach into the digital realm.
Expanding its digital offerings, the Atlanta Jewish Times also produces a monthly podcast, offering thoughtful discussions and insights that resonate with its audience. One of its most innovative features is the ‘AJT Connector’, an advanced community calendar and directory designed to function like a “community Facebook.” This platform provides landing pages for organizations, linking their events and stories, and fostering a comprehensive and interconnected resource for the Jewish community. Balancing its biweekly printed newspaper, which spans upwards of 70 pages, the publication carefully curates and rotates its feature content to ensure diverse and relevant topics, from celebrations to senior health, are covered.
Through these thoughtful adaptations, the Atlanta Jewish Times continues to maintain its role as a cornerstone of Jewish life while leveraging modern technology to enhance accessibility, engagement, and inclusivity. Its efforts underscore its unwavering commitment to keeping the Jewish community connected in the digital era.
The Atlanta Jewish Times carefully balances its coverage of local, national, and international Jewish issues by prioritizing content that resonates most deeply with its readership. With a robust and highly engaged Jewish community in Atlanta, the publication often receives more content than it can accommodate in print. As a result, it focuses its printed newspaper on local stories that directly impact Jewish Atlantans, ensuring the most relevant and community-centred topics take precedence.
Balancing Local Focus with Global Awareness
For national and international stories that may not specifically affect the local community, the Atlanta Jewish Times leverages its digital platform. These stories are featured online, allowing the publication to keep its readers informed about broader Jewish and Israeli issues while maintaining the space in its print edition for localized content. This thoughtful strategy ensures that the publication upholds its commitment to serving Atlanta’s Jewish community while addressing the wider concerns of Jewish populations globally. Through this dual approach, the Atlanta Jewish Times honors both its traditional values and its modern adaptability, connecting readers to meaningful stories on every scale.
Celebrating Teamwork and Community Impact in Journalism
For Kaylene Ladinsky, the most rewarding aspect of her career in journalism and publishing is the profound impact she has made on her community and the strong sense of collaboration within her team. Taking the reins as editor and managing publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Kaylene has led transformative growth, quadrupled readership, and established the publication as one of the best Jewish newspapers in America. Despite coming from a background in mediation, business administration, and criminology—not traditional journalism—her vision and leadership have breathed new life into the publication.
Kaylene’s drive to diversify the paper and prioritize the needs of her community shines through. By ensuring a broad range of perspectives and reducing lengthy opinion pieces to more concise formats, she has created space for diverse content that resonates with everyone in the Jewish community. Yet, she credits much of the paper’s success to her talented and dedicated team of experienced journalists, including former CNN writers, and to the unwavering support of the paper’s owner, Michael Morris. For Kaylene, the journey has never been a solo endeavor; it’s about motivating her team, understanding the vision, and fostering a shared commitment to community connection and excellence. Together, they have built a publication that reflects the vibrant and united spirit of Jewish Atlanta.
Leading with Vision, Trust, and Passion
For Kaylene, staying inspired and motivated in her demanding role stems from her deep love for her work and the impact it has on the Jewish community. Her job is not just about a paycheck—it’s about performing a mitzvah, a good deed that unites the diverse members of Atlanta’s Jewish community. Under her leadership, inclusivity has become a cornerstone, as she took steps to ensure the LGBTQ community was represented, breaking barriers set by previous editorial policies. This commitment to diversity and togetherness is central to her passion for journalism.
Kaylene draws immense pride from the talented team she leads. From award-winning designer Lily Jennison to experienced journalists, she credits her team for the success of the Atlanta Jewish Times. Her leadership philosophy focuses on trust and empowerment, allowing her team to take ownership of their roles while she provides guidance and support. Together, they strive to create a newspaper that not only informs but also connects and inspires pride within the community. For Kaylene, the reward lies in seeing her team’s dedication and in creating a publication that Atlanta’s Jewish community can truly be proud of.
Empowering Future Journalists and Publishers
For aspiring journalists, Kaylene emphasizes the importance of pursuing impactful stories that ignite meaningful conversations. She encourages journalists to be bold and explore in-depth, thought-provoking topics—stories that don’t necessarily need to provide answers but instead inspire readers to discuss, question, and form their own opinions. The hallmark of a great journalist, she believes, is the ability to make readers engage with the narrative long after they’ve read it, sparking conversations at their dinner tables and beyond.
For publishers, Kaylene advises focusing on aesthetics to capture the modern reader’s attention. She recommends adopting a more polished, periodical-style publication with glossy covers to appeal to audiences and attract higher-paying advertisers. Beyond aesthetics, she stresses the importance of fostering collaboration within teams. Post-pandemic, she advocates for bringing staff back into the office to cultivate a creative environment where teamwork flourishes. According to her, this camaraderie and collective effort not only enhance the quality of the publication but also drive greater business success. By building a passionate and collaborative team, publishers can create impactful publications that truly connect with their communities.
Supporting Nonprofits and Cultural Connection
The Atlanta Jewish Times takes significant steps to support cultural events and nonprofit organizations, cementing its role as a pillar of the Jewish community. Through its nonprofit arm, the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, a 501(c)(3), the publication distributes free newspapers to all members of the community, ensuring widespread access to valuable information while offering them the option to contribute donations. This approach not only nurtures community engagement but also highlights the publication’s commitment to inclusivity and service.
Additionally, the Atlanta Jewish Times maintains nonprofit advertising rates, along with its innovative ‘AJT Connector’ and community directory—a resource freely available to Jewish nonprofits. This platform, developed in collaboration with an Israeli company, serves as a hub for event details, organizational information, and articles, enabling nonprofits to reach and engage with their audience more effectively.
To further celebrate and support nonprofit organizations, the Atlanta Jewish Times hosts annual cultural events, such as the Atlanta Jewish Life Festival. These gatherings bring together around 100 nonprofit organizations each year, providing them with a platform to share their missions, recruit volunteers, and secure donations. With these initiatives, the Atlanta Jewish Times not only fosters a sense of unity but actively empowers nonprofits in their efforts to better the community.
Innovating for a Connected and Dynamic Future
The Atlanta Jewish Times envisions an exciting and community-centered future, adapting to the evolving needs of its readers while staying true to its mission of unity. A key initiative on the horizon is the introduction of “mini Expos” that aim to bridge the gap between advertisers and readers. These events will focus on areas like camps and education, featuring interactive booths where families can explore Jewish schools, camps, and even non-Jewish schools with significant Jewish populations. Fun activities for children will complement the expos, fostering engagement and a stronger connection within the Jewish community.
Additionally, the publication remains dedicated to maintaining the cherished tradition of its printed newspaper, offering readers the tactile experience of flipping through its pages—cover to cover. Looking ahead, the Atlanta Jewish Times plans to amplify its digital presence through more video content, an expanded YouTube channel, and integrating multimedia storytelling on its website. These efforts aim to bring the news to life and engage audiences across platforms. With a strategic focus on both tradition and innovation, the Atlanta Jewish Times is poised to further strengthen its role as a unifying force and trusted voice for the Jewish community.
Quote: “Don’t wait for the right time. Make the time right.”
Quote: “By offering a platform for dialogue, recognition, and connection, the Atlanta Jewish Times continues to strengthen the bonds of Jewish culture, tradition, and family in the region.”
Quote: “Its mission extends beyond journalism, as it actively supports local synagogues, nonprofits, cultural endeavors, and community events.”
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