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End of an Era: New Jersey’s Star-Ledger and Other Papers Go Fully Digital

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Bloomfield NJ, in a historic shift for “New Jersey journalism”, The Star-Ledger and several other newspapers across the state will cease print publication in 2025, transitioning to a fully digital format. This decision, impacting the state’s largest and oldest newspapers, marks the end of an era for readers who have turned to these print pages for generations. The move will shutter The Star-Ledger’s production facility in Montville, which also serves as the press for several other New Jersey papers.

According to NJ.com, Newark Morning Ledger Co., which owns The Star-Ledger, attributes the decision to escalating costs, shrinking circulation, and a reduced demand for print. This major pivot will see The Star-Ledger, the Times of Trenton, and the South Jersey Times cease their print editions by February 2, while The Hunterdon County Democrat will end print on January 30. Subscribers of The Hunterdon County Democrat will now access content through The Star-Ledger’s digital platform.

“Today’s announcement represents the next step into the digital future of “journalism” in New Jersey,” said Steve Alessi, president of NJ Advance Media. Alessi emphasized that the shift will enable deeper investments in journalism and community service, adapting to readers’ changing needs.

In reaction, Gov. Phil Murphy highlighted the importance of a free press, saying, “On the Ledger, outstanding reporting, even when I don’t always agree with it… we need the Fourth Estate to be strong in this country.” Residents share mixed reactions; some, like Bloomfield’s Matthew Lawrence, see it as a loss of a lifelong staple, while others embrace the digital era. “I don’t read the paper anymore. I use my tablet,” noted Nutley resident Anthony Santoro.

However, the transition won’t spare everyone. Jersey City’s Jersey Journal, in operation for 157 years, will close entirely, citing that a digital-only model lacks the scale to support the level of independent “journalism” readers expect. “We fought as hard as we could for as long as we could,” shared David Blomquist, editor and publisher.

The end of these print editions reflects the ongoing shift in journalism—one that continues to redefine how we access local news, preserving the heart of reporting even as the medium evolves.

 

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5 thoughts on “End of an Era: New Jersey’s Star-Ledger and Other Papers Go Fully Digital

  1. If the coverage of these papers were not so slanted, the move to digital would have been slowed, but not eliminated. In my condo of 25 units, there used to be 6-8 copies of the Record delivered daily. Once Gannett bought them, we are now down to one paper. The Record is an almost unreadable and biased leftist publication. Sadly, the days of an unbiased press are gone forever. The WaPo is seeing it, but it is WAY too late for them.

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  2. Service them right to be so slanted and bias

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  3. I cancelled the left wing Record years ago.

    1. When I was in grad school back in the 70’s, my labor law professor was the head of the Democrat party in Bergen county.

      He told us that he would not insult a dead fish by wrapping it in the Bergen Wretched.

  4. AFA the Letcher, the only good reporter working there is Mulshine.

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