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Ridgewood News Accused of being a one-sided promoter

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May 4, 2016
Customer Care
The Ridgewood News
1 Garret Mountain Plaza
Woodland Park, NJ 07424-0471


To whom it may concern,


Please consider this note an official cancellation of my Ridgewood News subscription. I have received the Ridgewood News every Friday for the past 16 years, when I first moved to Ridgewood. I am canceling now because it has become very clear that the paper, and those who run it, are no longer attempting to be objective, as a true work of journalism should be. The paper is nothing but a one-sided promoter of very controversial issues in town at the moment. It’s unfortunate, because these issues will resolve themselves in time, but the Ridgewood News will forever be remembered for the way the paper “reported” them, be it the parking garage, the petition, high density housing, the campaign for Village Council. Our local paper comes out on one side every time. That side, it just so happens, is closely aligned with “big business” here in Ridgewood. I’m referring to developers, not Mango Jam, It’s Greek to Me, and the rest of our small shops and restaurants, although they’ve been drawn into the fight as well. Often the preference for the “big wigs” is subtle – the placement of an ad on the very page the opposition was told was “never used for ads.”


I don’t need “reporting” like this. I will miss the photos of my friends and their kids, the special events in town, the letters to the editor, which, when balanced, offer a much better perspective on what’s going on in town than your journalists are permitted to. I always thought the paper presented a kind of Mayberry, unrealistic, pollyanna shot of Ridgewood. Now I’m seeing how dark that approach can become. I will not be renewing my subscrition any time soon. I will let you know if I hear the Ridgewood News has decided to tell the truth, as objectively as possible.
Sincerely yours,


Ellen McNamara

27 thoughts on “Ridgewood News Accused of being a one-sided promoter

  1. I cancelled my subscription too last night, after learning that they did not have space to print an important artcile before the election.

  2. There is so little content in that paper, how could there not be room? THE most important issue in Tuesday’s election and there is no room? HOW ABOUT THE FRONT PAGE!

    The Ridgewood “News” Has not journalistic standards. Just a fluff one-sided rag.

  3. The Ridgewood News sucks under this new editor.

  4. The Ridgewood News certainly has made a bundle in Ads off of the election, the parking garage, etc. how about some actual NEWS about these issues? Disgraceful.

  5. what story?? Readers want to know….

  6. Another thing in Ridgewood that was once worth it. I cancelled about three months ago when I got fed up with the slanted reporting. Have to say that the only thing I miss are the letters to the editor.

  7. Well Bill H, the new editor Jaime Walters has strictly limited the letters, she edits people’s opinions, she ages letters until,they are no longer timely or relevant……so you are not missing much with the letters!

  8. So are you all saying that this blog is fair and unbiased?

  9. 8:53 – we are not paying money to read this blog.

  10. This post is nothing but Tortious Interference! Tortious Interference!….LOL!

  11. 8:53 – this blog is honest and from the heart. People can say what is really on their minds. It allows for free speech. No problem with that!

  12. The Ridgewood News is old news. No one wants to read one sided opinions. they are on their way out

  13. Look at who the parent company is for the Ridgewood News. Northjersey Media Group (Stephen A. Borg
    President) Yes the same Brog that spoke at one of the Mayor’s civility meeting. You think that there is any connection ?

  14. I have lived here for 25 years….and never subscribed that rag…never felt like I was missing out on anything.

  15. 11:54 am is the only one that is correct.

  16. Maybe Mayor Paul Aronsohn new job will be at Northjersey Media.

  17. While your canceling you subscription to the Ridgewood News keep in mine to boycott GREEK TO ME,FISH PARK WEST AND ROOTS.

  18. Yes 12:16 and NO A FRAME SIGNS IN FRONT OF STORES AND EATERS in the CBD. Thanks Ed Sullivan for supporting A FRAME signs .You only care for the almighty buck. .

  19. I am confused about the reason to boycott those Ridgewood restaurants.. Somebody shares a different view about the future of Ridgewood, and the response is to damage their livelihood?

  20. Young editor’s experience is with shoppers and a shopper is what our town paper is quickly becoming. The headlines are one pun after another. I’m not going to renew when my subscription runs out. I’ve had it.

  21. 1:08pm – do you understand ‘news’?

  22. no A Frame signs in CBD but Concrete Planters are allowed for one store – JUST ONE STORE.

  23. This letter will have no impact whatsoever unless cc’d to the editor, her boss, her boss’s boss, the organization’s marketing department, and chief counsel Jennifer Borg. Ms. McNamara, did you do that? If not, please consider it now.

  24. it belongs on the trash heap with the Record

  25. Different topic – did anybody see that Weitz ad in the RN today that said the most important issues in this election are not Valley, hd housing, or garage but keeping Roberta as VM???

    What a joke!

  26. 1:08 pm – when someone disagrees with our mayor’s vision, he does the same thing – interferes with their livelihood.

  27. 1:08 is correct. Much as I disagree with the stands the owners have spouted, they do have a right to express their feelings w/o it destroying their livelihoods. We still, presumably, support the right of free speech, whether or not it is free speech supporting your side of the situation. However, we should expect to see “free speech” also be honest speech and I don’t see that always happening.

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