Bergen Record editor asks readers to chip in

The editor of The (Bergen) Record has made a direct appeal to his readers to show some generosity and buy a subscription to their digital edition.

“These are challenging times for journalism,” Dan Sforza said in his plea for dollars.  “It’s no secret that newsroom staffs, including the one at The Record and NorthJersey.com, are smaller than they used to be.”

But while asking his readers to cough up a few bucks a month to help keep his newspaper afloat, Sforza did not disclose that the CEO of Gannett, the mega media company that owns The Record, received $8.7 million in total compensation in 2017.

Gannett has acknowledged that they are the target of a $1.4 billion takeover bid by a hedge fund-backed newspaper chain with a history of slashing editorial staffs, but The Record and the other seven New Jersey dailies owned by chain has not yet reported the proposed deal to their readers.

Sforza’s request for his readers to open their pocketbooks in the interest of saving journalism did not acknowledge the takeover bid in his pitch.

Sforza has not responded to a January 14 message seeking comment.