Journalistically distracted

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There are some subjects the editors of The Record of Woodland Park won't touch, including the obesity epidemic and the frustrating, expensive and bureaucratic legal immigration system, which is likely the cause for a great deal of illegal immigration.


Yes. The all-seeing, all-knowing editors prefer safe, innocuous subjects, such as the Page 1 centerpiece today on how many hours kids spend on game systems and cell phones, and watching TV.  Of course, digital distraction isn't news to any parent, and our civilization won't be ending any time soon.


Frankly, I'm more interested in what my athletic 13-year-old eats at school and what impact state aid cuts to lunch programs might have on his diet. But good nutrition isn't a top priority of editors at The Record, including Food Editor Bill Pitcher, head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes and Projects Editor Tim Nostrand, all of whom are dysfunctional eaters.


Months after Governor Christie took office, I'm still waiting for a story on what the state is doing to address childhood obesity. But I guess because obesity is more prevalent among minority children, the overwhelmingly white editors feel comfortable ignoring it. 

This is what North Jersey Media Group must be referring to when it claims to embrace "responsible journalism."

Yet another Local section was published today without news of Hackensack or Englewood.

Much of the cover of Better Living today is devoted to a piece on expensive sun glasses. In the past few weeks, shopping news has increased while food news seems to have been shoved to a back burner.

(Painting by Juan Carreno De Miranda is called "The Nude Monster.")