Moran returns to the Ledger. Yay!

Plainfielders may or may not have noticed that the quality of the Ledger's political coverage of New Jersey took a nosedive after star reporter Tom Moran left to go to work for PSE&G a year and a half ago.

But I did, and it gridged me every day when I forked over six bits (more on Saturday and Sunday) for the dead tree version.

No disrespect to the fine folks who have been covering the bases in between, but Moran had a particular kind of access that no one else has quite been able to cultivate.

(For years it was rumored he was behind Sunday's 'The Auditor' column. True or not, it certainly became far less worth reading after Moran left the paper.)

Today's New York Times seems to have scooped even the Ledger in announcing Moran's return, unless you count the cryptic entry under its 'NJ Voices' section (see here). His first column is supposed to appear this week.

Welcome back, Tom!

Let the games re-begin!

---

• NYTimes: "After safe exit, a journalist returns"

-- Dan Damon

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Ledger furloughs mandated, news outsourced

A Ledger byline showing the story is by a Ledger staffer.

This byline shows the Ledger story has been outsourced.

Plainfielders concerned about the ever-shrinking print editions of the Star-Ledger may have noticed one change, but be unaware of a second.

The graphics above illustrate the bylines of two different stories in recent days. The first is by Union County Ledger reporter Alexi Friedman, whom many will recall seeing on a frequent basis up until a year ago as he went about covering Plainfield's city hall, city council and school board beats.

In recent months, he was moved from the Ledger's Union County offices in Kenilworth to a desk in Elizabeth, from which he frequently writes about topics all over the county.

The second graphic illustrates what is happening to the coverage of local news by the Ledger: it is being outsourced.

Ledger editor Jim Willse admitted to E&P last month (see here) that an organization was being built outside the Ledger newsroom (and presumably outside of union contracts and benefits liabilities, too) to provide local coverage to the Ledger and its online presence, NJ.com.

Those stories identified as being 'for the Star-Ledger' are emanating from this newly-formed organization, known as Local News Service.

This past week, Advance, the Ledger's parent announced that it was mandating a 10-day unpaid furlough (see more here).

At the same time, E&P reported that Gannett, the Courier's parent company, was ordering a second round of one-week furloughs to be taken before July (see story here).

The Gannett papers, unlike the Ledger, put a brief story about the furloughs in their local papers.

The furloughs are undoubtedly very hard on the news staff, and there seems to be no end in sight as both Advance and Gannett continue to report steepening losses in advertising revenues -- especially national accounts such as automobiles, and locally in classifieds, both of which traditionally gave a hefty boost to a newspaper's bottom line.

Lurking in the wings are other, and more drastic measures, that may yet have to come. Some Advance papers have gone to three-day schedules. Other large newspapers have disappeared entirely or gone to Web-only opeations.

The Times, they are a-changin'...

---

• Editor & Publisher --
• "Ledger to use Local News Service to supplement coverage"
• "Ledger parent Advance announces companywide furloughs"
  
• "Courier parent Gannett orders second round of furloughs"
  

-- Dan Damon

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Star-Ledger ponders unpaid furloughs

Plainfielders can probably count on even less coverage by the Star-Ledger if a report on Editor & Publisher's website (see here) turns out to be true.

Citing printouts said to be of email exchanges between Publisher George Arwady and Editor Jim Willse, the story details how a proposal to furlough employees for ten days between now and the end of the year -- as well as changes to pension and 401(k) plans -- would be undertaken.

Maybe they'll want to update that logo to 'Some Things Jersey'.

The Star-Ledger headquarters in Newark.

---

• Editor & Publisher: "'Star-Ledger' Appears to be Planning Unpaid Furloughs"

-- Dan Damon

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Paying more for less. Much less.

For Plainfield's hard-news freaks (count me in), the times are hard.

And getting harder.

This morning, I was startled from my autopilot newspaper ramble when the clerk said, "That'll be $3." Up from last Friday's $2.75.

For what?

The Courier News has joined the Star-Ledger with a 75¢ cover price for the daily paper.

In the A section, Page One had four area stories (including Plainfield's first homicide of 2009, above the fold, thank you!), and page 3 had three, all by staff reporters. The rest of the section had 6 AP stories and 2 from USA Today.

The Star-Ledger disappoints in its own unique way.

Monday's edition comes in four sections, of which hard news is only in the first section.

Page One has 3 stories by Ledger reporters, plus Bob Braun's column. Page 3 has a Newark story by a Ledger reporter. The balance of the section has 1 Jersey Journal story, 7 AP stories, a global roundup with 6 items from unidentified wire sources, and a New Jersey roundup of 4 items from unidentified sources (including the Plainfield homicide).

The news business is in tough times.

Gannett, the Courier's parent company, recently avoided being downgraded to 'junk bond' status -- just barely (see here).

The Star-Ledger, once the darling of the Newhouse publishing empire (with Plainfield connections, yet) is said to have lost $40M last year, precipitating the nasty buyout which has decimated its reportorial staff -- both news and columns (see here).

A recent OpEd by the New Jersey ACLU in Editor And Publisher (see here) sums up the effects of all this quite succinctly --

The people of New Jersey rely on reporters to let us know what is going on and use that information to form opinions, take action and determine how they want to vote. Reporters sit as our proxies and do our homework, attending council meetings until 2 a.m. They uncover political corruption and work with whistleblowers to release information that can protect the public. They put pressure on officials simply by doing their jobs, compelling our leaders to fix their mistakes.

Reporters bring important issues into the public square. Sometimes the press ignites a fire from a nonprofit’s fuel, and sometimes organizations discover new causes to rally behind because of a paper’s reporting. ...

Without paid reporters on the ground it’s almost impossible to hold our government accountable. While the prospect of having no one to look over their shoulders anymore could make a New Jersey politician or two giddy, it’s at the public’s expense. ...

With an even smaller number of overworked reporters forced to cut corners, more and more, our news sources only scratch the surface. Participatory democracy is much weaker without people who have the time and expertise to sniff out stories, wait out meetings and bring out credible information. ...

A vacuum in the newspaper industry sucks away democracy. Television news specializes in the sound bite. Bloggers specialize in commentary and speed. And newspapers specialize in the original reporting that governments, other reporters -- including bloggers -- and society rely on to understand the inner workings of government.

This blogger says 'Amen' to all that, and thinks that bloggers help by complementing the print media, not supplanting it.

As coverage of local politics thins more and more (the Plainfields have been lucky so far that the Courier still dedicates resources in a way the Ledger no longer does), the public is less well-served, though asked to pickup more of the tab left over from the disappearing ad sales.

And for this retiree, trying to get by on a meager pension and Social Security, the prospect of shelling out $102 a month for print editions of the Courier, the Ledger and the NYTimes is giving me deep pause.

What are your thoughts on this business? Log a comment!

---

-- Dan Damon

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Important changes to the Star-Ledger

Today's Star-Ledger contains the following boxed notice on the front page of the "New Jersey/Union" section.

TO OUR READERS With today's editions, we are consolidating the daily New Jersey and Union news sections into one section. The pages of the New Jersey section will be customized by edition to include a still-hefty amount of local news. We are taking this action to save newsprint, and hence money. Because of staff cutbacks, the depth of our town and county coverage will be somewhat less for a few weeks. But we are taking steps to rebuild that coverage so it will exceed, not just equal, what we have given readers in the past. There will be no changes in the individual Sunday county sections. -- The Editors

As the Ledger struggles with the changing newspaper market, the first sign we see as a result of the severe staff cuts precipitated by the buyout of many long-time reporters is a single Union County story (besides a brief note on the Linden PTA theft). "Still-hefty" is a phrase that does not strike me as meaning 'more' or even 'as much'. Sort of weasel-wordy.

Unmentioned is the continued decline in advertising, which would make a separate section feasible.

Will the Ledger lose its edge as THE New Jersey paper?

Courier, Ledger parent companies' woes continue

Newspapers owned by Advance, the Ledger's parent company.
For a complete list of the Courier's parent, Gannett, see here.

While driving with the radio on Thursday afternoon, I heard a report on Bloomberg that Gannett, the parent company of the Courier (and the Home News, Asbury Park Press and Courier-Post, among others in NJ) was going to lay off 1,000 people -- in their advertising departments, it seemed. This comes on top of previous cuts and a forced buyout at the Courier, and rough news for the Ledger (which I previously covered here).

Then, yesterday, the good folks over at the Countywatchers blog forwarded a link to a story about New Jersey newspapers and their problems from this week's NY Observer (see here). You should know the Observer, published weekly, is owned by young Jersey-raised Jared Kushner, who also owns the PolitickerNJ website (which is now expanding its franchise to many other states, as you can see from links on its homepage). And that Kushner, should things come to that, is rumored as a potential buyer for the Ledger.

My old standby, Editor and Publisher magazine, confirmed the Gannett news (see here), and also posted an update on the Advance (parent of the Ledger) organization's Michigan situation (see here), where three of its papers are consolidating printing and ad production -- reminiscent of Gannett's moves with the Courier.

But the real dirt comes from Jim Hopkins' Gannett Blog, where he posted the layoff memo (see here). Hopkins, former business editor of the Arkansas Gazette, has a hoppin' blog on all things Gannett. (As he notes, Frank Gannett would NOT be pleased.)

It all boils down to advertising moving away from print media. Classifieds, long a homely stepsister, but a cash cow, led the way, but now it has bled to national advertisers -- including cars most prominently. And, of course, the economic situation has not been helpful, especially as far as real estate advertising goes.

So, how long will you be able to pick a copy of the local paper out of your bushes every morning?

Or how long will you even want to?

Postscript: While print media flounder, their online presences do better, as can be seen from this exclusive report posted online this morning by E&P -- see here.

---

• NY Observer: "Welcome to New Jersey, media wasteland"
• Editor & Publisher:
• "UPDATE: Gannett Confirms Cut in 1,000 Jobs"
• "Advance consolidates printing, ad production"
  

-- Dan Damon

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'Heart Gallery' project touches Jerseyans' hearts

Two years ago photojournalist Najlah Feanny Hicks started the Heart Gallery project to help find adoptive families for some of DYFS's older and harder-to-place children.

The Star-Ledger gave excellent coverage to the project and the photo portraits made by participating photographer volunteers opened at the Liberty Science Center. A website was developed for the project and a partnership with NJ Adopt. As a result, 141 of the 346 kids profiled have been -- or are in the process of being -- adopted.

Today's Ledger profiles a new iteration of the initial campaign, in which one hundred permanent and nurturing homes will be sought for children who have been in the foster care system the longest.

The exhibit is expected to make stops across the state.

To volunteer as a photographer, offer a venue for the exhibit or make a contribution, go here.

---

More information and resources --

• Ledger - 7/27/2007: "'Heart Gallery' helps adoption of older kids"
• The Heart Gallery website: "The Heart Gallery"
• NJ Adopt website: "NJ ADOPT" or call (800) 99-ADOPT (992-3678)
  

-- Dan Damon

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'Ledger Litter' relief now a phone call away

Many consider Thursday's 'Ledger EXTRA' a nuisance.

The Ledger has come through on its promise to make it possible for homeowners to stop deliveries of its Thursday 'Ledger EXTRA' driveway-delivered shopping circulars.

Though some of my neighbors love the ads, coupons and other offers, many people consider it 'Ledger litter'.

Well, now you can get it stopped if you want. The snapshot above is of the wrapper on this week's delivery. You can clearly see the number for 'questions concerning delivery': 1-888-782-7533.

One less thing to complain about.

---

Background info --

• Plainfield Today - 6/23/2007: "Ledger Litter - you can get it stopped"
• Plainfield Today - 2/11/2007: "Those Ledger bags - Sales pitch? Invasion of privacy? Invitation to burglary?"

-- Dan Damon

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[Ledger] Cops: Trail of blood led to suspect's home

Published in the Star-Ledger, Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Cops: Trail of blood led to suspect's home

PLAINFIELD: a 39-year-old man was charged with attempted murder for repeatedly stabbing a 26-year-old resident early Sunday morning, police said yesterday.

Kevin Maxwell Andrews of Plainfield, was charged yesterday in the 5 a.m. stabbing, which happened in the 1400 block of West Third Street, Police Chief Edward Santiago said.

Police identified Andrews as a suspect shortly after the crime and were holding him on unrelated drug possession charges until the attempted murder charge. He is also charged with aggravated assault, burglary, robbery and possession of a weapon, according to the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Officers responding to the 911 call found the victim just outside his home, with multiple stab wounds to his back and throat, police said.

Story appeared in print edition only, no link to online story. Transcribed by DD.

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)

Ledger Litter - you can get it stopped!

Not everyone is thrilled by those Ledger baggies tossed in the general direction of the driveway every week, as you may know.

But who knew you could do anything about it?

Well, it seems Maplewood is trying to -- and more power to them.

Last night's Eyewitness news carried an item in their '7 on your side' feature on the township's efforts to come to some accommodation with the Star-Ledger about those ubiquitous plastic-bagged ad sheets which arrive, unsolicited, on a regular basis.

A house on the market in my neighborhood is vacant. If I don't pick them up every week, it's like a billboard saying 'Look! Over here! An empty house!'

Supposedly, the Ledger is changing the info on the bag, to more clearly advise how to stop delivery of the circulars if you are not interested in receiving them.

For now, try (888) 782-7533, the number on the bag photographed in my driveway recently.

-- Dan Damon

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Those yellow bags -- Sales pitch? Invasion of privacy? Invitation to burglary?

Reader ES sent the following email after returning home from a few days away on business to find his driveway littered with unsolicited Star-Ledgers in yellow plastic bags, tossed from passing vehicles. Note the questions he raises.

What do you think should be done? After reading of his experience and issues, post your COMMENT or SUGGESTION in this week's POLL SECTION (upper right hand column on the CLIPS page).

Without my warning or my knowledge, The Star Ledger saw fit to begin delivering one month's worth of their newspaper on my driveway -- presumably as an enticement to gain a new customer. I came home from a brief trip out of town to find several papers on the driveway screaming out "Nobody's home!". Had the house been vacant for 30 days, I could only imagine what the collection yellow plastic bags would have looked like. Thanks, Star Ledger for inviting the uninvited. I also noticed quite a few other driveways in the neighborhood are decorated with the same yellow bag of newsprint. I thought we were making progress in getting to a cleaner Plainfield; it's quite an ugly site.

One of the papers had a letter from George Dyevoich, their Home Delivery Manager, telling me to enjoy all this litter from 2/4 thru 3/3!  A  P.S. put the onus on me to call them to stop the delivery if that's what I wanted. (at 888 782-7533) When I called, I had to go thru their interactive voice system to get to a representative in the circulation department. After being on hold for an aggravating 20 minutes, they wanted to know my name, address and phone number in order to stop delivery. Are they serious? I have an unlisted number. I did give them my address and an emphatic message: "cease delivery now and forever". Let's see if and when that message gets thru.

I get ALL my news on-line and on CNN. I would like to think that helps slowdown the pollution and waste we create. In a mass scale, it would really help. But it's really about exercising my freedom of choice. You may not see this as a big deal, but like the unsolicited flyers, bags of gravel, menus and other stuff that sits on my front door from time to time, it's litter and more importantly, an invasion of my privacy...

PT and others have remarked before, and repeatedly, about the declining readership of print versions of newspapers -- even as readers flock to their online editions.

First, dear reader, disabuse yourself of the idea these are wonderful people who simply live that you should have news. They are businesses that live to make a profit for their owners -- primarily through the sale of advertising. If the news is compelling enough to keep you coming back, chances are the advertisers may also get some nibbles from you. Or so the reasoning has been for the past 130 years or so.

The Internet has changed all that. People are becoming accustomed to getting their news online, in near-real time, and pretty much breezing by the ads. And it is the challenge to the advertising income that has the papers scrambling.

The old sack-in-the-driveway pitch for new subscribers is just that -- literally OLD, and literally a PITCH of the paper.

In sales, it's called cold-calling. It's pretty much a first-cousin of those annoying timeshare and financial planning phone solicitations you used to get just as dinner was being served. But that was in the days before the do-not-call list, which has eliminated 99.999% of PT's phone hustles.

Should something similar be done with regard to newspapers and advertising circulars that are regularly pitched in our driveways? Is the practice, as ES suggests, an invasion of our privacy? An annoyance? Or a useful service? What kind of business sense does it make to solicit a customer and then hide yourself behind a phone-tree-from-hell-system? Lastly, if the pile of yellow bags invites unwanted attention -- say that of a burglar -- who is responsible should you suffer any loss?

Stroll on by the POLL SECTION (upper right hand column on the CLIPS page) and EXPRESS YOUR OPINION. This week will be a SURVEY instead of a yes/no poll, so feel free to sound off on ES's issues.

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