Tag: North jersey media group

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Gannett Owner of North Jersey Media Announced its cutting pay and furloughing ” journalists” at its newspapers across the country

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Hackensack NJ, Gannett announced Monday it is cutting pay and furloughing ” journalists” at its newspapers across the country as ad revenue plunges during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gannett  is the publisher of more than 100 newspapers, including ,North Jersey Media Group, USA Today, the Detroit Free Press, The Columbus Dispatch and The Arizona Republic, is reportedly furloughing workers who make more than $38,000. Those employees will be subject to furloughs of one week per month in April, May and June, according to a tweet from investigative reporter Gregory Holman of the Springfield News-Leader in Missouri, a Gannett-owned paper.

Continue reading Gannett Owner of North Jersey Media Announced its cutting pay and furloughing ” journalists” at its newspapers across the country

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North Jersey Media Group another Round of Layoffs 

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file photo by Boyd Loving

September 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, for the third time in the 14 months since the Borg family sold the North Jersey Media Group, Gannett  has laid off workers .Gannett bought the Newspaper chain for $40 million in July 2016 and according to reports laid off a dozen people or so on Thursday at  the Bergen Record and other papers. The Record which is the second-largest daily in the state.

Among those laid off were long time reporter , John Brennan; Heather Zwain, a fashion editor and one of the last full-time edit staffers on 201 Magazine; and two editors, Debra Lynn Vial and Carla Baranauckas.

In the two prior rounds of layoffs a total of 241 people lost their jobs and 20 of North Jersey Media Group’s weekly newspapers were shuttered. Many of the copy editing and production facilities were combined with the Asbury Park Press, which Gannett owned before it added the Bergen Record to its holdings.

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Reader says for North Jersey Media Group “mass layoffs are imminent”

bergen record

file photo by Boyd Loving

North Jersey Media Group, which publishes The Record and the Herald News, announced last month that 141 employees will receive layoff notices. The company reported the layoffs on its website, NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group announced last year that 426 employees will receive notices required by New Jersey state law when “mass layoffs are imminent.

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Gannett Laying off 141 Employees at North Jersey Media group

bergen record
file photo by Boyd Loving
January 24,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Gannett owner of the Bergen Record is issuing layoff notices to 141 employees in a second major round of job cuts since it purchased North Jersey Media group.

Many long-time readers of the Ridgewood blog know there was not much love loss between this blog and the former owners of the Bergen Record, the Borgs.  The Ridgewood blog was frequently the target of their ire.

The Record like most of New Jersey’s local media worked in collusion with the far left and seemed to support every new tax, and regulation chasing every business out of the state along with most retirees and high earning tax payers.

While we hate to see people lose their job, we know the same consideration would not be given to us.

The company said Monday the cuts will take place across its North Jersey Media Group, which includes The Record, the Herald News of Passaic County and NorthJersey.com

The McLean, Virginia-based Gannett Co. Inc. has previously eliminated over 100 jobs at the newspaper group right after purchasing the papers last summer.

The company says North Jersey Media Group is reorganizing to meet the growing digital demands of its readers and advertisers.

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Gannett laying off more than 100 at New Jersey news group

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By Associated Press September 14 at 2:59 PM

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. — Gannett is laying off more than 100 employees at a New Jersey media company it recently purchased.

A company executive said Wednesday the layoffs are needed to improve the financial sustainability of the North Jersey Media Group, which publishes The Record, NorthJersey.com and other newspapers.

The McLean, Virginia-based Gannett purchased the news organization in July.

Tom Donovan, northeast regional president of Gannett East Group, said layoff notices will go out to 426 of the company’s employees this week. Among these, he said, more than 200 newsroom employees and about 60 in sales will remain with the company. Donovan declined to say how many people the company employs.

The layoff notices are required under state and federal law when a private company plans wide-scale layoffs.

Donovan said the changes are part of “an ambitious new reinvention” to make its newsroom and sales department more responsive to digital demands.

He said the company will invest in new equipment and “transform our strategy to better serve the sophisticated and increasingly digitally minded New Jersey audience and advertisers.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/gannett-laying-off-more-than-100-at-new-jersey-news-group/2016/09/14/39f4ab56-7a9f-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_story.html

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4 Ridgewood High School teachers have been selected by North Jersey Media Group as “Outstanding Educators”

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May 17,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,  RHS teachers have been selected by North Jersey Media Group as  “Outstanding Educators” in different categories. Winning teachers from Ridgewood are: Jeffrey Haas for Art, Craig Bunzey for Physical Education/Coaching, Jessica Leigh for English and Lillian Labowsky for Science. The teachers, nominated by high school students throughout Bergen and Passaic counties, were recognized as having most impacting and making a significant difference in their students’ lives. They will be honored in a special section in The Record on Sunday, June 12, and at a celebratory breakfast on June 13 at Ramapo College of NJ in Mahwah.

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Aronsohn connection with the Ridgewood News goes deep

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February 20th ,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, readers question, ” How dare the newspaper try to squelch letters from anyone on any side of the story, as long as they are respectful?! What the people are doing who are trying to stop the funding via the BCIA is completely legal and they are well within their rights. A grass roots effort like this stopped the turf field in Glen Rock. Citizens of this country have a right to act in accordance with the law. Clearly the triumvirate is very, very nervous because they are being outsmarted by honest, energetic and very intelligent individuals.”

Aronsohn connection with the Ridgewood News goes deep.. This is not the first time letters have not been published right Linda. Lets see who are owners of the Ridgewood News NorthJersey Media AKA The Record and who is the owners of the Record North Jersey Media Group (NJMG) is an independent, family-owned media company providing local news, information and services to the residents of northern New Jersey. The company is headquartered in Woodland Park (formerly West Paterson) and is best known for its daily newspaper, The Record. Stephen A. Borg Yes the same Stephen Borg that was the key speaker at one of our Mayors civility meeting. Let not forget the ex reported for the Record aka Aronsohn Press Officer. Get real poster what you read is being manipulated

Readers also Voice Concern on the Mayors Overly Cozy Relationship Stephen Borg, Publisher and President, North Jersey Media Group
https://theridgewoodblog.net/readers-also-voice-concern-on-the-mayors-overly-cozy-relationship-stephen-borg-publisher-and-president-north-jersey-media-group/

Readers feel the Mission of the “Civility Forums” is nothing more than Censorship and Control political speech of Village residents.
https://theridgewoodblog.net/reader-feel-the-mission-of-the-civility-forums-is-nothing-more-than-censorship-and-control-political-speech-of-village-residents/

Civility forum moves forward to squelch public dissent
https://theridgewoodblog.net/civility-forum-moves-forward-to-squelch-public-dissent/

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Reader says the Mayor does indeed go out of his way to slant the news.

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Reader says the Mayor does indeed go out of his way to slant the news.

Do you all recall when our Mayor squelched a negative letter-to-the-editor that Mrs. Linda MacNamara had sent to the Ridgewood News? In the interest of TRANSPARENCY, she gave a copy to the Council in advance of the publication, even though it had already been accepted by the RWD News. The Mayor then told the Editor not to print it (Mr. Ed Virgin was out of town, but his next-in-command took the order from Mayor Aronsohn and obeyed it). Yes, this is true. The Mayor does indeed go out of his way to slant the news. Mind you, this was a letter to the editor, not a news story, so the writer’s opinion should have gone through to printing. It was a horrible, blatant act on the part of Mr. Aronsohn.

Chemistry.com

Esurance

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Readers feel the Mission of the “Civility Forums” is nothing more than Censorship and Control political speech of Village residents.

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unnamed-6

Readers feel the Mission of the “Civility Forums” is nothing more than Censorship and Control political speech of Village residents.

I have not been able to attend the the so-called Civility Forums initiated by Paul Aronsohn of Ridgewood. I am sure that most of us would like to have the volume lowered in public discourse. The irony is that much of the high volume public discourse is perpetrated by politicians, pundits, and the print and electronic news media. I agree with the blogger that it is elitist that elected officials, a lobbyist, and a newspaper publisher would use their position and power to imply that anonymous bloggers are in someway destructive to the democratic process. I should not have to remind the participants that history is riddled with people in power who have sought to control and re-write the public narrative to their satisfaction. Mr. Tedesco and Paul Aronsohn should read Robert’s Rules of Order to maintain orderly public meetings. Public opinion, free speech, and dissent are the domaine of all the people including those who choose to remain anonymous.

“Ed Koch  once said ,”If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”

But not according to Stephen Borg, Publisher and President, North Jersey Media Group, who insisted that the whole problem is that since people have found their voice through social media they have come to so many different opinions civil discourse has fallen .Things were so much better when North Jersey Media had a monopoly on public discussion and could always dictate terms .  Borg implied that elites like himself we the only ones qualified to make those decisions. Borg pointed out how this blog and its anonymous posters are the greatest enemy to not only American Democracy  but to the dominance of North Jersey Media Group. While I was rather flattered that the Publisher and President, North Jersey Media Group thought this blog shook the very foundations of civil discourse  and was viewed as the barbarians at the gate , I would suggest the far larger problem might be the totally bias, and slip shot reporting  of his Media Empire. Borg set the tone for the evening which came down silencing critics and reasserting the elitist “we know better  than you ” , so time to be quite .https://theridgewoodblog.net/civility-forum-moves-forward-to-squelch-public-dissent/ “

Yes, it does sound as if some Gruber-like sentiments about the general public were expressed at the most recent event of Mr. Aronsohn’s series of discussions designed to lay the groundwork for the Obama administration’s plans for naked and direct government censorship of the political speech of individual citizens.

The general public, as a whole, has and regularly displays, far more integrity than do, as a whole, the self-appointed elites in this country. That’s why the following sentiment has always rung so true:

“I would sooner be governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than by the two thousand members of the faculty of Harvard.”― William F. Buckley Jr., Happy Days Were Here Again: Reflections of a Libertarian Journalist

Hillary Clinton, pining for Aronsohn-style “civil discourse”…as if! Sounds suspiciously like Borg with her complaint about non-standard media sources.

Hillary Clinton Blames ‘Different Media’ For Dividing Country by Charlie Spiering/Breitbart , the Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton complained that “different media” are dividing the country, making it impossible for people to even have a conversation with each other.”

Chemistry.com

Esurance

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Civility in Public Discourse – Tonight Tuesday, February 24th @ 7:30PM

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Civility in Public Discourse – Tonight Tuesday, February 24th @ 7:30PM

The Village of Ridgewood will host a panel discussion on “Civility in Public Discourse” on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30pm at the Ridgewood Public Library.

Panelists will include Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood; Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group; Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department; Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official; James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive.

The facilitator for the discussion will be David Fine, Rabbi, Temple Israel. “This panel discussion will provide a good opportunity to take our conversation about civility to the next level,” explained Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn. “These community leaders each offer an important perspective, and we are fortunate to have this chance to engage them in such a meaningful way.”

The event will be open to the public. WHAT: Panel Discussion on Civility in Public Discourse WHEN: Tuesday, February 24 7:30p to 9:00p WHERE: Ridgewood Public Library 125 North Maple Avenue, WHO: Panelists Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive Facilitator David Fine, Rabbi, Temple Israel HOW: Remarks by panelists, followed by questions / answers.

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Writer questions appropriateness of mayor’s monthly column

Ridgewood_ Village_Hall_theridgewoodblog.net

Writer questions appropriateness of mayor’s monthly column
Friday August 2, 2013, 8:36 AM
The Ridgewood News

Writer questions appropriateness of mayor’s monthly column

Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood

Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood

Boyd A. Loving

Ridgewood
To the editor:

In light of concerns voiced by some residents regarding Ridgewood Mayor Paul Aronsohn’s recent interactions with your editorial staff (“Our letters policy,” The Ridgewood News, July 26, page A6), I am prompted to ask whether you should continue publication of Mr. Aronsohn’s monthly “Mayor’s Corner” column.

 

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/218079021_Letter__Writer_questions_appropriateness_of_mayor_s_monthly_column.html#sthash.ilJoYX9g.dpuf

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Follow Up Re: The Ridgewood News Letter to the Editor

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file photo of PJ Blogger reading the Ridgewood News

Follow Up Re: The Ridgewood News Letter to the Editor

James J. Foytlin
The Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood, New Jersey

Dear Mr. Foytlin:

I am writing as a follow up to North Jersey Media Group’s (NJMG) June 28, 2013 letter posted on The Ridgewood Blog in response to several comments left by blog readers concerning a letter submitted by a resident for publication in the Letters to the Editor section of The Ridgewood News.  It is kindly requested that you post this letter on the blog as well.

It is my understanding that some were disappointed with NJMG’s June 28, 2013 letter because it was not as forthcoming with details as those interested in this matter would have liked.  However, as you likely know, New Jersey has a very strong shield law that is designed to safeguard the newsgathering process and allow our reporters to do their job to the fullest ability.  Information obtained by reporters in the course of their professional activities, including discussions with their sources, is privileged.  NJMG must be cautious with the information it discloses so as not to unintentionally waive this most important safeguard.

NJMG recognizes that some will likely decry this explanation as a way to simply dodge the underlying issues.  However, such complaints are shortsighted.  The shield law is designed to protect the free flow of information to the press.  If the information obtained and the sources consulted in connection with news articles and editorials, such as letters to the editor, are subject to disclosure at the demand of the public, then the willingness to provide information to reporters will quickly evaporate and have a detrimental effect on the amount and quality of information available to the public at large.

However, in light of the fact that Mayor Aronsohn has already identified himself as having contacted The Ridgewood News and without waiving the right to any otherwise privileged information, NJMG would like to state the following:

·         The Ridgewood News was never asked by the Mayor or anyone else in person or by any other means to withdraw, hold, pull or not to publish the resident’s letter;

·         As he himself stated, Mayor Aronsohn contacted The Ridgewood News after a June council meeting to confirm what had already been discussed openly during that public meeting covered by our reporter; to wit, that there was a discrepancy between the letter writer’s statement regarding the village attorney’s advice and what the village attorney’s actual advice was with respect to handling matters in open or closed session.

The Ridgewood News was obligated to hold the resident’s letter until the facts could be confirmed.  While The Ridgewood News does not fact check every letter to the editor, the newspaper would have been remiss by publishing information that it actually knew was not entirely accurate.  Indeed, our courts have held news media liable for publishing letters to the editor that contain inaccurate statements.

As a further point of clarification, the resident was never advised that the letter would be printed in The Ridgewood News in the days immediately following the submission. Rather, newspaper staff contacted the resident for the purpose of confirming the authorship of the submission.  The decision to print any news or opinion letters in The Ridgewood News rests in the sole discretion of NJMG and is further subject to space limitations in the newspaper.

In accordance with the privilege afforded The Ridgewood News under the shield law to safeguard its newsgathering activities and editorial process, NJMG is unable to make its editorial staff available for further inquiry, including personal meetings, to discuss this matter.

Finally, to the extent that any individual or entity has impliedly suggested or explicitly stated that The Ridgewood News succumbed to any pressure from the Mayor or any other public or private figure with respect to publication of the resident’s letter, NJMG unequivocally denies the accusation and the actual facts support that position.

We appreciate the community’s interest in our reporting and for bringing these concerns to The Ridgewood News’ attention.

Sincerely,

ROBERT D. THOMPSON

—————————————————–

Robert D. Thompson, Esq.
Corporate Attorney
North Jersey Media Group Inc.
1 Garret Mountain Plaza
P.O. Box 471
Woodland Park, NJ 07424
T: (973) 569-7685
F: (973) 569-7268

 

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Readers Not Buying North Jersey Media Group denial that letter to editor pulled

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file photo Boyd Loving

Readers Not Buying North Jersey Media Group denial that letter to editor pulled

Letters to the editor are signed and by their nature (like editorials and op-ed pieces) represent opinion. Any reader who identifies a factual error or wants to argue a point can write a follow-up letter; this happens routinely in every publication. Dialog and debate are good.

It is not the editor’s role to make sure that all statements in a letter to the editor are accurate as it is in an article or editorial. In most newspapers the top editor would never see letters to the editor before publication at all.

More fact checking in Ridgewood News articles, which are frequently full of errors that could easily have been checked, would be most welcome. But letters to the editor? No.

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Even the Bergen Record noticed its been 14 years

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Even the Bergen Record noticed its been 14 years

Ridgewood NJ , In the Record’s recent editorial Failure to disconnect even the far left leaning Bergen Record had to admit ,”were the Village Council and the municipal administration? No one knew for at least 14 years that a council or Planning Board member had improper contracts with the town?

And as a readers so eloquently said ,”So let me get this straight, Mayor Aronsohn who voted for letting Riche do the work is now saying it was illegal. Then why did he vote YES! He was the one who gave approval NOT Riche. It’s like a cop tells me I can buy some pot and then arrests me for smoking it!

The Record: Failure to disconnect
Friday, June 7, 2013
The Record

A COUNCIL member should not do business with the municipal government he represents. That principle is not hard to grasp.

But for some inexplicable reason, it was not followed in Ridgewood, where Councilman Thomas Riche has had a long-standing business relationship with the village through his telecommunications firm, Extel Communications.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/210523931_The_Record__Failure_to_disconnect.html?scpromo=1