 |
| The Record continues to peddle testimony in depositions as front-page news. |
When it comes to Governor Christie, The Record's editors have abandoned all pretense of objectivity -- as readers clearly can see from coverage of July's state jobless rate, the highest in 35 years.
N.J. jobless rate at 9.8%
That was the headline over the lead Page 1 story on Friday, but inside, Editorial Page Editor Alfred P. Dublin did his best to polish the governor's battered image (A-21).
Doblin insisted it is "subjective opinion" to say "the state isn't improving."
Yet, he asked Christie to discard the so-called Jersey Comeback he has been selling at every opportunity.
Doblin's opinion columns, especially his unabashed admiration for Christie, undermine the legitimacy of the paper's Editorials.
More rhetoric
Editor Marty Gottlieb and the Trenton reporters he directs have been careful to put all criticism of the the GOP bully into the mouths of Democrats, thereby making it part of the endless partisan rhetoric that has paralyzed the country and turned off readers.
Christie censored a report on state revenue -- hiding how it came out below budget projections -- but the only critic quoted in Friday's A-1 story is Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Middlesex, deep on the continuation page (A-10):
"Obviously, he [Christie] doesn't want the truth about New Jersey's revenues to come out before the Republican National Convention, because it will show his 'New Jersey Comeback' is a public relations fantasy."
Of course, Gottlieb gave Christie the last word through his spokesman and spin doctor, Michael Drewniak, who called Buono's incisive comment a "partisan" pot shot.
No follow up
Another clear indication of how the editors have sold out is the lack of follow-up in today's paper of the clearest evidence so far of Christie's failure to boost the state economy with hundreds of millions of dollars in business tax breaks and low taxes for the multimillionaires who support him -- all at the expense of the middle class.
Zisaville coverage
Head Assignment Editor Deirdre Sykes kept the Hackensack reporter busy with two more stories about the city's convicted former police chief.
On Friday, an L-3 story reported Ken Zisa's ex-wife, Mary McMorrow, is asking a judge to award her half of his $11,000-a-month pension, which the ex-chief might lose after he is sentenced for official misconduct and insurance fraud.
Today, another story based on depositions in lawsuits filed against Zisa leads the front page, this one focusing on provisional Police Chief Tomas Padilla, identified as the disgraced chief's friend and political ally (A-1).
As astute reader noted the first version of the story to appear on North Jersey.com around 6 p.m. Friday was by Mark J. Bonamo, managing editor of the weekly Hackensack Chronicle.
The Record's version, by Staff Writer Stephanie Akin, didn't show up until 11:30 p.m.
What remains unclear is what all of this intense coverage of Zisa -- which began in the summer of 2009 -- has to do with Police Department morale or how the city is being run.
Ninja hero
The main element on A-1 today is a sensational story that tries to garner sympathy for the family of Emmanuel Devy of Wallington -- a father of five who died in a crash after fleeing from police on one of those insanely fast Ninja motorcycles.
The sad truth is people like Devy are a menace.
Gottlieb, who came to Woodland Park from The New York Times, will do anything to sell the paper.
Lowe's in lights?
On the Better Living front today, this headline confused readers:
After losing, Lowe's still set on showbiz
That's the first I've heard of the home improvement store chain shifting gears so significantly.
Will all of the stores, including the new Paramus outlet, be converted into theaters?
Readers of Friday's restaurant review got a good laugh from the large photo of customers at Pellegrino's in North Haledon (BL-16 and 17).
Is it something in the food? All four male patrons shown in the photo are bald or balding.
Staff Writer Elisa Ung's rating was lukewarm. The sugar addict applied the kiss of death by saying the desserts "alone [were] worth the trip."
Rogaine review
Is it something in the food? All four male patrons shown in the photo are bald or balding.
Staff Writer Elisa Ung's rating was lukewarm. The sugar addict applied the kiss of death by saying the desserts "alone [were] worth the trip."
How dare you call a man who dies a menace? Talk shit about the paper all you want but you watch your mouth when you speak of someone who passed away...He was a great person who made one mistake. He served your country the same one who gave you the right to post dumb blogs. Get a life and post in the rant and raves on Craigslist like the rest of the cry babies.
ReplyDeleteTatiana-
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Tatiana.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Now that he's dead, he is no longer a menace.
Unfortunately, there are too many like him still on the roads, and they scare me.