Local Journalism Concerns
Journalism in New Jersey Is Under Attack — And Berkeley Heights Just Joined the Pile-On
Date: 2025-03-23
Explores how public institutions—including Berkeley Heights officials—are undermining transparency by discrediting watchdog platforms and retaliating against critical coverage.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/03/23/journalism-in-new-jersey-is-under-attack-and-berkeley-heights-just-joined-the-pile-on/
What the Berkeley Heights “Massage Parlor” Breaking News Tells Us About Power, Privilege, and Hyperlocal News Blogs
Date: 2024-11-14
Analyzes the framing of a local news story as a case study in media bias, editorial discretion, and the quiet power of narrative omission.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/11/14/what-the-berkeley-heights-massage-parlor-breaking-news-tells-us-about-power-privilege-and-hyperlocal-news-blogs/
Fear of Facts: A Response to Councilwoman Poage’s “Fake News” Claim
Date: 2025-03-20
Responds to elected officials' accusations of misinformation, defending fact-based reporting and challenging the weaponization of “fake news” rhetoric.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/03/20/fear-of-facts-a-response-to-councilwoman-poages-fake-news-claim/
Influence, Transparency, and Budget Priorities: The CMS Lease, Hard Court Press, and BHPSNJ Budget
Date: 2025-03-15
Examines how selective media coverage and coordinated messaging shaped the public narrative around the CMS lease and school funding.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/03/15/influence-transparency-and-budget-priorities-the-cms-lease-hard-court-press-and-bhpsnj-budget/
Power, Priorities, and Paychecks: Unpacking the Devanney Council’s Latest Moves and a Local Press That Fails to Hold Them Accountable
Date: 2025-02-02
Critiques the disconnect between local government decisions and how they’re portrayed—or ignored—by area news outlets.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/02/02/power-priorities-and-paychecks-unpacking-the-devanney-councils-latest-moves-and-a-local-press-that-fails-to-hold-them-accountable/
Regarding TAPinto’s Coverage of “Unpaid Bills” (Part 2)
Date: 2024-09-07
Challenges the framing and context in a follow-up article from TAPinto, continuing the critique of their approach to BOE reporting.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/09/07/regarding-tapintos-coverage-of-unpaid-bills-2/
Regarding TAPinto’s Coverage of “Unpaid Bills”
Date: 2024-09-06
Dissects the language and omissions in a TAPinto article on the school district, raising broader concerns about accuracy and framing.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/09/06/regarding-tapintos-coverage-of-unpaid-bills/
07/25/2024 BOE Meeting
Date: 2024-07-30
Covers a Board of Education meeting marked by questions over transparency and communication—and how local outlets did (or didn’t) cover them.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/07/30/07-25-2024-boe-meeting/