MARMORI, HANOKH

MARMORI, HANOKH (1948– ), Israeli graphic artist and editor. Marmori studied history and theater at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and graphic design at the Bezalel Academy of Arts. A satirist, he began his writing career on the university newspaper, contributed to the popular television satirical program Niku'i Rosh ("Clearing the Head"), and co-wrote a satirical column in the political weekly Ha-Olam ha-Zeh. In 1980 he joined the Schocken newspaper chain, first as the founding editor of the Tel Aviv local newspaper Ha-Ir. In 1984 he moved to Ḥadashot, the failed Schocken attempt to launch a popular newspaper, where he was occupied in writing mostly for the newspaper's magazine and supplements. In 1988 he was appointed deputy editor of the Haaretz daily newspaper, and following the death of its veteran editor Gershon *Schocken in 1991 was appointed to succeed him. Deploying his graphics background, Marmori succeeded in turning a dullish newspaper into one with an attractive layout, but without losing its character as a thoughtful and stimulating maker of opinion. A daily culture and entertainment supplement and a weekly book supplement were added, together with expanded news coverage, notably in the fields of economics and sport. Notwithstanding his close ties with Amos Schocken, who succeeded his father Gershon Schocken as publisher, differences eventually arose between the two men. Disagreements within the editorial board over the Intifada beginning in 2000 found Schocken taking a more left-wing position together with some other board members while Marmori took a more centrist view. In 2004 Schocken's plans to further enlarge the economics section of the paper into a separate entity called "The Market," outside the editor's direct responsibility, led Marmori to resign. He left active journalism to head the Department of Visual Communications at the Bezalel Academy of Arts. In 2004 he was awarded the Sokolow Prize for journalism.

[Yoel Cohen (2^nd ed.)]