The
Internet
1996-1997 Survey of Jewish Communal Professionals
A similarly difficult-to-evaluate pattern exists for JOI's
visiblity on the Internet/World Wide Web. Increasingly,
the Internet has become a major force in American society,
and within the Jewish community as well. Over the past
five years, several Jewish organizations--including JOI
and CJF [Council of Jewish Federations]--have established
web pages and have attempted to disseminiate information
via Internet linkages into American homes and offices.
The potential of the Internet to reach American Jews,
particularly unaffilliated and intermarried Jews, is infinite.
Thus, a final series of questions asked survey respondents
about their use of the Internet/Web, the CJF On-line Network,
and their familiarity with JOI's fledgling web site. Two-thirds
[65%] of survey respondents had used the Internet at either
work or home [or at both] 7.
However, only one-in-three respondents had ever used the
Jewish On-line Network; indeed, only 8% of survey respondents
regularly used the CJF network to access the Internet.
On the other hand, three-of-five respondents [61%] subscribed
to an Internet service: either Americc Online, Compuserve,
Prodigy, or a local Internet provider. JOI
list respondents were much more likely to be Internet
subscribers: 73% of JOI list respondents vs. 56% of national
organization list respondents indicated that
they subscribed to a "net" service.
In terms of JOI on the Web, 30% of the JOI list respondents
indicated that they knew that JOI had a "home page"
compared to 10% of the national organization list. Slightly
less than half of those who knew that a web site existed
had used the World Wide Web to access JOI's home page,
regardless of whether they came from the JOI or the
national list. Clearly, the potential Internet use by
JOI to disseminate information on outreach programs
is vast, given the current Internet subscription rate
by respondents. JOI's home page has received attention
from only a small portion of the Internet literate Jewish
community, but given the vast array of information available
on the Internet, and the relatively new status of JOI's
home page, the survey results should stimulate even
greater focus by JOI in expanding its web site materials,
and advertising the home page's location and resources.
_____________________
7
JOI list respondents were slightlly more likely to have
ever used the Internet/Web [70% vs. 63%], but the differences
were not statistically signficant.
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