By Tim Harfmann
In 110 years, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s newspaper, The Tablet, has never missed an issue. Jorge Dominguez says it never will.
He is the Catholic newspaper’s new editor-in-chief — and the first Hispanic to take on the responsibility.
“It is a big responsibility, first and foremost. It is very challenging, of course, but at the same time very exciting,” Dominguez said.
He’s no stranger to Catholic reporting.
A native of Cuba, Dominguez started a religious magazine as a teenager and later a newspaper for the Archdiocese of Havana.
He continued writing for Catholic media outlets after migrating to the United States in 1992.
For the past three years, Dominguez has served as editor of Nuestra Voz, the Spanish newspaper of the Brooklyn diocese, where he was named editor-of-the-year by the Catholic Press Association.
Dominguez reports to Vito Formica, the executive director of news content and development for DeSales Media Group.
“He’s going to bring a lot of knowledge and experience and quality journalism to The Tablet. We’re already seeing it in the issues that are coming out,” Formica said.
The Tablet newspaper prints nearly 70,000 copies every week. It is distributed throughout 45 states.
The paper’s editor emeritus, Ed Wilkinson, was at the helm for over three decades and gave Jorge his blessing.
“I think Jorge’s a great guy. He loves the Church. He loves the diocese. He’s very knowledgeable about the Church, so I was really thrilled when I found out he was going to be my successor,” Wilkinson said.
Dominguez has big shoes to fill, but he’s up for the challenge.
“The paper became the true reflection of the life of the Diocese of Brooklyn! We have to keep that,” Dominguez said.
Wilkinson gave Dominguez the same advice he received when he took over the paper in 1985 — go with your gut.
“The paper’s going to change. You’re going to have to take it in a new direction. Don’t be afraid to go in a new direction. It’s not going to be the way it used to be, so don’t worry about trying to make it what it used to be,” Wilkinson said.
Dominguez already has plans to evolve The Tablet — growing it digitally.
“We can bring back that legacy of being a paper that is not just for Brooklyn and Queens because, now, we have a growing presence on the internet.”
A way for Catholics to learn about their faith in print or on the web.