Blending lifestyle issues and issue-based journalism, Friday Night magazine launched because its publishers saw a void for Jewish press in Toronto, says co-publisher and editor Paul Grossinger.


Grossinger, along with co-publisher and editor David Bale have been working on the launch of the magazine for about a year and a half, he says and thinks it will be met well in the community. “Before we launched we had meetings with people in the community, and the consensus was that there is an overwhelming feeling that a magazine like this was needed and well overdue,” says Grossinger.

The goal of the magazine, which is based in Thornhill, Ont. and printed by Ironstone Media is to reach the 30 to 50 year old Jewish demographic in the Toronto area. Advertising for the 48-page launch issue went well, says Grossinger with Roots, Club Link and Jewish day schools all buying space in the magazine.

Plans for the future include increasing the controlled distribution to 15 to 20,000 copies for the next issue, says Grossinger. The January/February issue was a test launch which printed 3,000 copies. “The goal is to get to a paid subscription model by January of 2011,” he says. This will allow Friday Night to hire a full-time editor and circulation staff. Currently art director Adrian Doran and other contributors freelance for the magazine.