The Star-Ledger
Encyclopedia
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper
in the U.S. state of New Jersey
and is based in Newark
. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times
of Trenton
and the Staten Island Advance
, all of which are owned by Advance Publications
.
The Newark Star-Ledgers daily circulation is larger than the next two largest New Jersey newspapers combined and its Sunday circulation is larger than the next three papers combined.
The Star-Ledger's main competitor in New Jersey is The Record
, which is based in Bergen County
.
bought the Newark Ledger in 1935, and merged the paper with the Star-Eagle in 1939 to become the Newark Star-Ledger, later changed to simply The Star-Ledger. (It is still popularly called the Newark Star-Ledger by many New York-area residents because of its heritage and its editorial location.
During the 1960s The Star-Ledger’s chief competitor was the Newark Evening News
, once the most popular newspaper in New Jersey. In March 1971, the Star-Ledger surpassed the Evening News in daily circulation, because the Newark News was on strike. The Evening News shut down in 1972.
Perhaps learning a lesson after the Newark Evening News’ disastrous move to a high traffic area (trapping its delivery trucks in inner-city traffic) the Star-Ledger opened a satellite plant in Piscataway
. The Piscataway location offered quick access to Union
, Monmouth
, Somerset
, and Middlesex
counties.
The Star-Ledger was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting
in 2005 for its comprehensive and clear-headed coverage of the resignation of the Governor of New Jersey
Jim McGreevey
, after he confessed to adultery with a male lover.
The paper awards the Star-Ledger Trophy each year to high school teams that end up as the number one team in their respective sport in the state of New Jersey.
in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Having worked closely with the Newhouse family for years, Arwady was asked to move to Newark to financially revamp the paper.
Because the paper was losing money, parent company Advance Publications
said on July 31, 2008 that it would sell the Star-Ledger unless it could get 200 of its non-union staff to voluntarily leave under a buyout
offer, and its unionized truck drivers and mailers to agree to concessions. On September 16 publisher George Arwady sent employees a status update by e-mail, saying that management felt progress had been made on the buyout and concessions from the mailers, but that management is "far from an agreement with the Drivers’ union.". The email continued:
On October 24, 2008, the newspaper announced that 168 newsroom employees had offered to take the company's buyout offer, and that the company had accepted 151 of them, which will result in a newsroom staff that's 40% smaller.
. Prior to accepting the Ledger's editor Willse headed up the review of electronic information options for all Newhouse newspapers. He also expanded the Ledger's use of color and encouraged a more aggressive editorial team. The National Press Foundation named Willse its 1999 recipient of the George Beveridge
Editor of the Year Award in recognition of Ledger's coverage of racial profiling
by the New Jersey State Police
.
Upon Willse's retirement in October 2009, managing editor Kevin Whitmer took over as editor.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and is based in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times
The Times (Trenton)
The Times is a daily newspaper owned by Advance Publications that serves the Mercer County, New Jersey area, with a strong focus on the government of New Jersey. The paper had a daily circulation of 77,405, with Sunday circulation of 88,336...
of Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
and the Staten Island Advance
Staten Island Advance
The Staten Island Advance is a daily newspaper published in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The only daily newspaper published in the borough, and the only borough to have its own major daily paper, it covers news of local and community interest, including borough politics. As of...
, all of which are owned by Advance Publications
Advance Publications
Advance Publications, Inc., is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse Sr., Donald Newhouse and S.I. Newhouse, Jr. It is named after the Staten Island Advance, the first newspaper owned by the Newhouse family...
.
The Newark Star-Ledgers daily circulation is larger than the next two largest New Jersey newspapers combined and its Sunday circulation is larger than the next three papers combined.
The Star-Ledger's main competitor in New Jersey is The Record
The Record (Bergen County)
The Record is a newspaper in northern New Jersey. It has the second largest circulation of New Jersey's daily newspapers, behind The Star-Ledger. Owned by the Borg family since 1930, it is the flagship publication of the North Jersey Media Group. Stephen Borg is the publisher of The Record...
, which is based in Bergen County
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
.
History
The Newark Daily Advertiser, founded in 1832, was Newark's first daily newspaper. It subsequently evolved into the Newark Star-Eagle. S. I. NewhouseSamuel Irving Newhouse, Sr.
Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr. was an American broadcasting businessman, magazine and newspaper publisher. He was the founder of Advance Publications, eventually taken over by his son, Samuel Irving Newhouse, Jr..-Biography:...
bought the Newark Ledger in 1935, and merged the paper with the Star-Eagle in 1939 to become the Newark Star-Ledger, later changed to simply The Star-Ledger. (It is still popularly called the Newark Star-Ledger by many New York-area residents because of its heritage and its editorial location.
During the 1960s The Star-Ledger’s chief competitor was the Newark Evening News
Newark Evening News
The Newark Evening News was an American newspaper published in Newark, New Jersey. As New Jersey's largest city, Newark played a major role in New Jersey's journalistic history. At its apex, The News was widely regarded as the newspaper of record in New Jersey. It had bureaus in Montclair,...
, once the most popular newspaper in New Jersey. In March 1971, the Star-Ledger surpassed the Evening News in daily circulation, because the Newark News was on strike. The Evening News shut down in 1972.
Perhaps learning a lesson after the Newark Evening News’ disastrous move to a high traffic area (trapping its delivery trucks in inner-city traffic) the Star-Ledger opened a satellite plant in Piscataway
Piscataway Township, New Jersey
The township consists of the following historic villages and areas: New Market, known as Quibbletown in the 18th Century, Randolphville, Fieldville and North Stelton...
. The Piscataway location offered quick access to Union
Union County, New Jersey
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 536,499. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Elizabeth. Union County ranks 93rd among the highest-income counties in the United States. It also ranks 74th in...
, Monmouth
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
, Somerset
Somerset County, New Jersey
Somerset County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. In 2010, the population was 323,444. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Somerville....
, and Middlesex
Middlesex County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 750,162 people, 265,815 households, and 190,855 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,422 people per square mile . There were 273,637 housing units at an average density of 884 per square mile...
counties.
The Star-Ledger was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting
Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting
The Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting is a Pulitzer Prize awarded for a distinguished example of breaking news, local reporting on news of the moment...
in 2005 for its comprehensive and clear-headed coverage of the resignation of the Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
, after he confessed to adultery with a male lover.
The paper awards the Star-Ledger Trophy each year to high school teams that end up as the number one team in their respective sport in the state of New Jersey.
2000s financial troubles
In 2005, George Arwady became the publisher of The Star-Ledger. A graduate of Columbia University, Arwady had previously been the publisher of the Kalamazoo GazetteKalamazoo Gazette
The Kalamazoo Gazette is the daily newspaper in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. The Gazette is owned by Booth Newspapers which is owned by Advance Publications....
in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Having worked closely with the Newhouse family for years, Arwady was asked to move to Newark to financially revamp the paper.
Because the paper was losing money, parent company Advance Publications
Advance Publications
Advance Publications, Inc., is an American media company owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse Sr., Donald Newhouse and S.I. Newhouse, Jr. It is named after the Staten Island Advance, the first newspaper owned by the Newhouse family...
said on July 31, 2008 that it would sell the Star-Ledger unless it could get 200 of its non-union staff to voluntarily leave under a buyout
Buyout
A buyout, in finance, is an investment transaction by which the ownership equity of a company, or a majority share of the stock of the company is acquired. The acquiror thereby "buys out" control of the target company....
offer, and its unionized truck drivers and mailers to agree to concessions. On September 16 publisher George Arwady sent employees a status update by e-mail, saying that management felt progress had been made on the buyout and concessions from the mailers, but that management is "far from an agreement with the Drivers’ union.". The email continued:
- Since it is doubtful that the Drivers will ratify an agreement by October 8, 2008, we will be sending formal notices to all employees this week, as required by both federal and New Jersey law, advising you that the Company will be sold, or, failing that, that it will close operations on January 5, 2009.
On October 24, 2008, the newspaper announced that 168 newsroom employees had offered to take the company's buyout offer, and that the company had accepted 151 of them, which will result in a newsroom staff that's 40% smaller.
Presidents
- Amzi ArmstrongAmzi ArmstrongAmzi Armstrong and his wife Annie were murdered on November 23, 1910 in Dutch Neck, New Jersey. -Biography:On April 22, 1856 he was licensed to preach in New Brunswick, New Jersey. On May 10, 1871 he married Catharine Ann Hoover in Manhattan. She was previously married to Reverend Thomas Hoover of...
(1832-?) - William Burnet KinneyWilliam Burnet KinneyWilliam Burnet Kinney was an American politician and diplomat.His grandfather, Sir Thomas Kinney, came to the United States from England before the Revolution to explore the mineral resources of New Jersey. William Burnet received a good education. After graduating from Princeton University, he...
(?-1851) - Thomas T. Kinney (1851–1895
- James Smith, Jr.James Smith, Jr.James Smith, Jr. was a newspaper publisher and US Senator from New Jersey.-Biography:Born in Newark, New Jersey, Smith attended private schools and St. Mary's College, in Wilmington, Delaware. He was engaged in the dry-goods and importing business, and later became a manufacturer of leather in...
(1895–1915) - Paul Block (1915–1939)
- Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr.Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr.Samuel Irving Newhouse, Sr. was an American broadcasting businessman, magazine and newspaper publisher. He was the founder of Advance Publications, eventually taken over by his son, Samuel Irving Newhouse, Jr..-Biography:...
(1939–1979) - Donald NewhouseDonald NewhouseDonald Newhouse is one of the owners of Advance Publications. He has three children: Kathy, Michael, and Steven. He also has six grandchildren: Robert, David, Andrew, Sarah, Alex, and Kate...
(1979-?) - Mark Newhouse (?-Incumbent)
Executive editors
In 1995, following the retirement of 32-year veteran editor Mort Pye, Jim Willse was appointed the editor of the Ledger. Willse was the former editor and publisher of the New York Daily NewsNew York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
. Prior to accepting the Ledger's editor Willse headed up the review of electronic information options for all Newhouse newspapers. He also expanded the Ledger
George D. Beveridge
George D. Beveridge was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist praised for his coverage of the Washington, DC politics, government, and regional development, and described by the Washington Post as an expert on this city and a keen observer and critic of journalistic ethics and...
Editor of the Year Award in recognition of Ledger's coverage of racial profiling
Racial profiling
Racial profiling refers to the use of an individual’s race or ethnicity by law enforcement personnel as a key factor in deciding whether to engage in enforcement...
by the New Jersey State Police
New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police is the state police force for the state of New Jersey. It is a general-powers police agency with state wide jurisdiction when requested by the Governor, designated by Troop Sectors.-History:...
.
Upon Willse's retirement in October 2009, managing editor Kevin Whitmer took over as editor.
The Star-Ledger in popular culture
- The Star-Ledger was featured prominently various times in the television series The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
, an HBO drama series set in New Jersey. Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
received home delivery of the paper, and several episodes opened with him picking it up at the end of his driveway.
- The newspaper was also referenced by comedian George CarlinGeorge CarlinGeorge Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author, who won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums....
in the 2004 comedy/drama, Jersey GirlJersey Girl (2004 film)Jersey Girl is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith. It stars Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Raquel Castro, George Carlin, Jason Biggs, Jennifer Lopez and Will Smith...
, which was written and directed by New Jersey native Kevin SmithKevin SmithKevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...
.
- The Star Ledger was also featured in Robert KursonRobert KursonRobert Kurson is an American author, best known for his 2004 bestselling book, Shadow Divers, the true story of two Americans who discover a World War II German U-boat sunk 60 miles off the coast of New Jersey....
's 2004 novel, Shadow DiversShadow DiversShadow Divers is a non-fictional recounting of the discovery of a World War II German U-Boat sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey, USA in 1991.-Overview:...
.