The Pulitzer Prizes have been announced and this year's big winners are the New York Times, which won two (for International Reporting on Russia's justice system and for David Leonhardt's commentary), and the LA Times, which also won two (for Public Service on corruption in Bell City for Barbara Davidson's feature photography). The Wall Street Journal received one for Joseph Rago's editorial writing, the Washington Post was honored for breaking news photography after Haiti's earthquake and ProPublica won for national reporting about Wall Street's role in the economic meltdown. The Chicago Sun-Times won for local reporting on Chicago's violence and the Star-Ledger won for its feature writing, a special look at the 2009 sinking of a fishing boat in Cape May. more ›

Wow: NJ's largest newspaper has endorsed the independent candidate for governor, Chris Daggett. The Star-Ledger explains, "The newspaper’s decision is less a rejection of Gov. Jon Corzine and Republican Chris Christie than a repudiation of the parties they represent, both of which have forfeited any claim to the trust and confidence of the people of New Jersey. They share responsibility for the state’s current plight." more ›

The NY Times reports that the Star-Ledger, NJ's largest paper (15th largest in the country, with a daily circulation of 345,000), "will cut its newsroom staff about 40 percent by year’s end, one of the largest reductions in a single move by a major American paper." This comes after grim talk from its publisher, Advance Publications, saying that the newspaper would fold if there were not a number of concessions made from staff and unions. The unions agreed to new deals and the Times explains that buyouts will be given to "about 150 news employees who requested them." A memo said that many employees applied for buyouts and some will be turned down. Some employees said It's possible that the paper will hire new employees, too. more ›

There have been worries that NJ's biggest paper, the Star-Ledger, will close, as it has been losing $30-40 million a year. The publisher outlined that it could stay opened if 200 buyouts are accepted by staff and union concession are met. Last week, its mailers union agreed to a new deal and yesterday the deliverers union reached a deal with Advance. Now all that's left is finding 200 employees willing to take buyouts, but Advance president Donald Newhouse said, "We're very hopeful that everything will fall into place." more ›

Yesterday, The Star-Ledger's publisher George Arwady told employees that the newspaper will close on January 5 next year "if 200 buyouts and several union concessions are not met, or if the paper cannot be sold," according to Editor & Publisher. The e-mail explains there are three things that need to be done: Get concessions from drivers, cut non-union staff via buyouts and get concessions from the mailers' union. As the Star-Ledger itself reports, while the paper's dire situation was known, "yesterday was the first time a Jan. 5 closure date has been mentioned." The president of S-L's parent company Donald Newhouse said, "We strongly believe that if we can achieve the three objectives we set for ourselves ... then we will be able to produce a viable newspaper." more ›

The Observer has a feature on the dwindling fortunes of NJ coverage and newspapers: The New York Times "emptied out its two New Jersey bureaus in Trenton and Newark," Record's headquarters are being shut down and the Star-Ledger (the 15th biggest paper in the country, in 2007) may be sold if a large number of employees don't take buyouts. The NY Times' David Carr wrote a column about the Star-Ledger's importance, "It’s the kind of newspaper that can get the laziest reader out of bed." This is also a good time to remember that today is four-years since James McGreevey announced he was a gay American and was stepping down--the Star-Ledger won a Pulitzer for their coverage. more ›

The Star-Ledger reports that Governor David Paterson is putting his stamp on the Port Authority by getting rid of Executive Director Anthony Shorris. Shorris was appointed to the $277,000 position by former governor Eliot Spitzer. more ›

Newspapers all over the country are paying close attention to the stunning news that Governor Eliot Spitzer paid for a prostitute - and was apparently a regular client - to "visit" him from NY to DC. Our local papers all take a shot at the former crusading Attorney General who rode into the Governor's Mansion on a promise of reforming Albany. more ›