Stale news, stale headline

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Why was Paterson left out of the Page 1 story on growing diversity in North Jersey?

Growing diversity 

The splashy, front-page story in The Record today describes big changes in North Jersey from 2000 through 2009, but the main headline (above) is as stale as they get.

All the statistics and photos reviewing change in the past decade expose a huge flaw in news coverage under Editor Francis Scandale and head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes, who prefer chasing big journalism prizes over covering local news.

For the most part, growing diversity that transformed Fairview and other communities was ignored by the reporters on the ground. And any conflict between newer and older immigrant groups -- such as Korean and Japanese residents -- never makes the paper.

The report by Staff Writers Harvy Lipman and Dave Sheingold covers many communities, but mentions Paterson only once in passing. And the writing seems clinical, completely overlooking how the huge influx of new immigrants changed North Jersey's eating habits and world view.

Roaming far afield

You don't have to look past Page 1 to see how far Columnist John Cichowski has roamed from his mission of covering commuter problems or how desperate the editors are for something -- anything -- to put on A-1.

Today, the Road Worrier seizes on a freak highway accident in Montana to deliver the breathtaking news that falling asleep while traveling at high speed in a huge, gas-guzzling SUV can be dangerous. 

Former Managing Editor James Ahearn is the first of three Record writers to identify former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice John E. Wallace as black (A-23).  

Blowhards on stage

Shmuley Boteach, that publicity hungry rabbi from Englewood, suckered the paper into covering him again with a lavish story on the front of Sykes' Local section today. Rosie O'Donnell came along for the ride. Here are comments from readers of northjersey.com:

1. Wednesday December 15, 2010, 7:16 AM - bergenNEWS says:
   "Hundreds" showed up? BergenPAC holds 1,400. Oh, wait: Bad weather, you say. Too cold to go out. Really??? You ever live anywhere outside of Jersey? Funny that you would make excuses for the poor turnout after televising the city council meeting. Common denominator in both: Huttle. Bunch o' bottom lickers you are. If you'd taken the time to research, you'd have found that Boteach is (a) ignored and (b) reviled in the community he presupposes to speak for. The only credibility he's ever had is what YOU have tried to give him. In turn, you damage your own credibility. Then you wonder why no one reads you.
   
   
2. Wednesday December 15, 2010, 7:11 AM - bergenNEWS says:
   This guy is the biggest publicity hound going, and you folks play right into it. She's nobody. He's even less. But by virtue of the fact that they managed to stage a performance, you gave it credibility. No critical thinking. No rational assessment. All knee-jerk. The killer: Neither is particularly popular anymore, so you've no justification. It certainly wasn't what you'd call high-minded. So why did you invest all that time, money and energy into it? Makes us feel you wouldn't know a real story if it kicked you in the nuts.
   
   
3. Tuesday December 14, 2010, 11:45 PM - NJ Dissident says:
   I think the both of them are a waste of time. I did enjoy the Rabbi's radio show on WABC, but this side show is an insult to any thinking person. They should have sold rotten tomatoes for the audience to throw. So much for selling your soul to show business.