Monmouth County will see expanded coverage

Greater Media Newspapers has seen an opportunity in recent years to expand its news coverage and circulation to additional areas of Monmouth County. From a base that included the western and Bayshore regions of the county, our management has brought newspapers online that cover Red Bank, Long Branch, Ocean Township and other communities in eastern Monmouth County. Our papers now circulate in a majority of the county’s 53 municipalities.

While our newspapers’ coverage remains focused on the municipal news generated by local governing bodies, planning boards, zoning boards and school boards, we believe that an opportunity now exists to expand our coverage of county news and features. With circulation in about 30 municipalities, the time is right for us to bring these stories to tens of thousands of Monmouth residents.

With a $457 million budget in place for this year, it is no understatement to say that county government plays a large role in the lives of businesses and residents. The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders oversees roads, a park system, a reclamation center and a comprehensive social services division, just to name a few. People from our communities – your neighbors – hold important positions with the county. These are the stories you will read in Greater Media Newspapers.

Monmouth County government has been under a microscope over the past year. County employees were among those arrested and indicted in the FBI’s Operation Bid Rig, which shocked residents in February 2005. There is much to report as the county moves forward under the direction of a freeholder board that has been almost completely reconstituted over the past year.

Greater Media Newspapers will endeavor to cover the county the same way we endeavor to cover all of the municipalities in which our papers circulate – with fairness to all sides on an issue and objectivity in reporting. Opinions will not be expressed in news stories; editors will make their commentary in editorials.

We want county employees and residents to know we are in the game. If you have an idea for a county story or something newsworthy to report, call us at (732) 358-5200, ext. 8278.

In other news from the editorial department, there are several changes taking effect this week.

Three veteran reporters have taken over new beats, or territories. Dave Benjamin will now be covering Jackson after years spent covering Manalapan and the Freehold Regional High School District for the News Transcript.

Kathy Baratta returns to the Manalapan beat after a very productive run covering Howell. Joyce Blay moves in to cover Howell after almost four years as the Jackson reporter for the Tri-Town News. Blay will continue to provide coverage from Lakewood for the Tri-Town News.