(photo: the author)

This photo shows better than words the sorry state of journalism in the capital city of the great state of New Jersey. Would you guess from this that our Governor is a potential presidential nominee? Maybe so, considering he’s a person of weight.

Global warming, Syria and Iraq, the economy, Ebola hysteria—much important stuff is happening in the world and in the nation and even in New Jersey. It’s a major chemical-producing state, headquarters for many pharmaceutical firms, yet still a major farming state (blueberries, cranberries, peaches), important Revolutionary war, American Indian, and industrial history site, host of the nation’s largest seaport, major educational and scientific resources, and a commuter haven. All these industries and activities are vital to the region, with more than 100 million Americans—almost a third of the U.S. population—no more than an overnight drive away. New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, sends 15 people to Congress, and has all the challenges and richness that an economically, culturally, and otherwise diverse population brings to the table.

Trenton itself deserves ongoing, close journalistic scrutiny. It’s just beginning the recovery from a corrupt mayoralty and complicit city council and someone needs to hold its leaders’ feet to the fire, and who’s to do that? Network news stations? The state has none, pinched as it is between New York and Philadelphia. Public media? Governor Christie sold off our public radio and tv resources to powerhouse WHYY in Philadelphia and WNET in New York. They vowed to cover the state thoroughly, of course, and . . .

The recent “local” Princeton story about NBC physician-reporter Nancy Snyderman violating her Ebola quarantine was broken not by the Times, WHYY, or WNET, but by hyperlocal news website, Planet Princeton, run by my friend, Krystal Knapp. When these other entities got around to covering the story, they neglected to give Krystal credit. Not so CNN’s “Reliable Sources” (link to come, once it’s posted) and this Washington Post blog.

I’m afraid the newspaper front page says it all.