In Pittsburgh, Jacki Karsh touts journalism fellowship combating antisemitism

Jacki Karsh doesn’t identify as an “Oct. 8 Jew.”

“I didn’t wake up on Oct. 8 [2023] and realize there was antisemitism in the world,” the six-time Emmy-nominated Los Angeles television reporter said.

Karsh, who moved to California from New York, said her children attend Jewish day school and she serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, as well as being involved in other Jewish organizations in the city.

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“I’m very, very embedded in Jewish life,” she said. “So, I was well aware of antisemitism and how it was brewing. Honestly, it’s been on the rise since 2021.”

Karsh decided to do something about the rising tide of antisemitism by creating the Jacki and Jeff Karsh Journalism Foundation with her husband which, according to the organization’s website, “equips journalists to report with depth, rigor, and clarity on Jewish issues in the United States and around the world.”

Karsh was in Pittsburgh on June 10 for a conversation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s H. Arnold and Adrien B. Gefsky Community Scholar Rabbi Danny Schiff as part of its Heart of Philanthropy event, honoring Lev Society members.

After Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel, Karsh said she felt the need to be a “Jewish journalist” and find a way to use her skill set to “correct the dangerous path we were heading on.”

“After Oct. 7, we saw a real problem in newsrooms all across the country — and frankly, around the world — in how they were understanding what was happening,” she said. “News gathering was complicated to the point where we were trusting sources that we shouldn’t have, and what was coming out of real stalwarts of journalism was borderline propaganda from terrorist organizations.”

Conceived in November, 2023, Karsh said the first cohort of 12 journalists was selected from 144 applications received from newsrooms across the United States, including ABC, NBC and NPR.

“We wanted to equip journalists who might not be reporting on that subject with the tools, resources, network, and with the mentors, to be able to do so and be an effective voice in the newsroom,” she said.

The hope, Karsh explained, is that when a story needs a Jewish voice, the Karsh Fellows will be able to explain why Jewish Voice for Peace doesn’t represent all Jews and identify groups that reflect a range of Jewish perspectives.

Likewise, Karsh believes that journalists who have completed the fellowship will be able to explain the nuances of Judaism — for instance, explain why a Hasidic Jew might not be the right source for a story about modern Orthodox Judaism.

The model has worked, Karsh said. And the fellowship is accepting applications, due Sept. 1, for its next class.
“We have worked with incredible, talented journalists that have published work since being a part of the program that clearly shows they have learned, grasped and understood the nuance that we were hoping them to,” she said. “It’s really been a rewarding process that, for me, brings us back to fact-based journalism, which seemed like a lost art.”

Alice Sahel-Azagury, Federation’s assistant vice president of development & planned giving, said that it was a privilege to welcome Karsh to Pittsburgh.

“Jacki’s presence for the Heart of Philanthropy Event celebrating gratitude and sharing impact was widely recognized and warmly received. An award-winning journalist and tireless advocate for honest reporting, Jacki shared insights from her ongoing work advancing truth and combating antisemitism, both in support of Israel and here in the United States, by confronting the misinformation and disinformation that fuel it,” she said.

While in Pittsburgh, Karsh met with Mayor Corey O’Connor who, she said, “is very committed to the Jewish community and its security and safety.”

This was her first time in the city, and Karsh said that before her trip, she wasn’t aware of what a “wonderful, robust Jewish community” was in Pittsburgh.

She was particularly moved by meeting with community members whose families, like hers, go back generations.

“To me that is the true story of the American Jews, not just to isolate and live alone but to expand, build, grow and contribute. To be a part of the city and to move it forward,” she said. “That’s who we are as American Jews. We’re builders. It’s been wonderful to meet leaders here that are proud of who they are, not just in the Jewish community but in the greater Pittsburgh community, as well.” PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.