In the midst of recent magazine closures and more layoffs, it's always heartening to see a new pub launch. And even online only content paves the way for more growth within the industry.

So let's welcome Tablet magazine, a daily online Jewish magazine focusing on news, culture and ideas. The site is a "beefed-up, rebranded, refocused update" of Nextbook.org, explained editor-in-chief Alana Newhouse, in her welcome letter on the site. Launched in 2003, Nextbook.org published Jewish arts and culture writing, up until earlier this year. Now, Tablet takes over its mission and brings something new to the table.

"We've expanded our mandate to cover, break, and analyze news and politics, and will work to tie our cultural coverage much more closely to current public discourse," Newhouse explained. "Even more important, Tablet is not simply a read. On our site, you will find lengthy pieces of in-depth journalism and cultural criticism, fiery blog posts, audio podcasts and video clips, beautiful slideshows, and bits of animation."

Newhouse, who joined Tablet from Jewish weekly newspaper the Forward, is joined by a formidable team of journalists, including deputy editor Gabriel Sanders, who has worked for the Forward and Vanity Fair and former Gawker editor and New York magazine editor Jesse Oxfeld, who will serve as executive editor.