Staff
Rabbi Rachel Esserman
Executive Editor, Book Reviewer
rachel@thereportergroup.org
Rabbi Rachel Esserman is the executive editor and book reviewer for The Reporter Group. Her editorials and reviews have won awards from the American Jewish Press Association and the Syracuse Press Club. She also serves as the Jewish chaplain for Broome Developmental Disabilities Service Office. Her work has been published in "The Women's Torah Commentary" and "The Women's Haftarah Commentary" (both by Jewish Lights Publishing). She has also had a book of poetry, "I Stand By the River," published by Keshet Press of Temple Concord. A Reconstructionist rabbi whose first love is teaching, she sees her position on the paper as an opportunity to educate the public about Judaism.
Diana Sochor
Layout Editor
diana@thereportergroup.org
Diana started at The Reporter in May 1996 as the editorial assistant. Prior to that, she worked at The Walton Reporter as its proofreader and briefly as its production manager. She was promoted to assistant editor in June 1999 and became the layout editor in April 2001. While she does the layout for The Reporter Group’s newspapers, she’s a bit of a "Jill of all trades," also juggling administrative responsibilities, editing, production work and, once in a blue moon, a little bit of writing
Outside of work, Diana is kept busy by her very active teen (class of 2022?!), her husband and an elderly psycho cat. She’s also a life member of and volunteer for the Girl Scouts, and an avid sci fi/fantasy/mystery fan.
Kathy Brown
Book Keeper and Advertising Representative
kathy@thereportergroup.org
Kathy Brown, a Long Island transplant, began her Reporter career in November 2001 as a part-time administrative and mailing assistant. While working, she earned her second associate’s degree in accounting from Broome Community College. In August 2005, she was laid off due to budget cuts. However, she stayed available to help the mailing person if needed.
In October 2014, she was laid off from a bookkeeping position and would hang out at the labor department looking at the job board. Imagine her surprise when there was a job notice for a part-time bookkeeper for The Reporter on the job board. She was hired and has been billing clients, paying bills, doing adlists and other accounting duties.
When Kathy is not working, she is home taking care of a very active beagle, her husband and an old rustic home. She lives on a lake and loves gardening, fishing, boating and just walking in the woods.
Julie Weber
Production Associate
production@thereportergroup.org
Julie is the newest addition to The Reporter team. After graduating from college in December 2020, she began her search for design jobs, which led her here. She is currently the graphic designer and helps Diana with the advertisements. When an ad needs to be updated or corrected, she steps in and talks with the clients to find out their needs to ensure the correct information gets in the next issue on time. Also, she works on uploading the newspaper articles and updating both The Reporter’s and the Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton’s websites.
In her free time, Julie loves watching animated shows, listening to murder mystery podcasts, and enjoys spending time with her two dogs and kitten.