Newark pays for all the good news fit to print

updated 9:18 a.m. ET Oct. 25, 2005

NEWARK, N.J. - Call it pay for praise, greenbacks for good news, bucks for beneficial publicity. The Newark City Council has awarded the Newark Weekly News a $100,000 no-bid contract to publish positive news about the city.

Howard Scott, who owns Newark Weekly News, pitched the idea to the city council, which unanimously approved the idea earlier this month.

"Do we have critical reporters on staff? No. Do we have investigative reporters? No," Scott said. "Our niche is the good stuff. People have come to know it, and they love it."

Under the contract, the paper will work with the city's public information office to spread positive aspects of the city.

The paper can only generate stories based on leads from the council and the mayor's office.

John O'Brien, executive director of the New Jersey Press Association, said it was bad public policy to use tax dollars this way.

"The press role is supposed to be that of a watchdog," O'Brien said.

MORE FROM LIFE

Life Section Front

Bodies dug up, cut up at black cemetery Local governments face painful choices   Another furlough to close Calif. offices   Tot plays hide-and-seek much too well   5 killed when Amtrak train hits car in Mich.   Woman vanishes at NYC skyscraper State puts federal marriage law on trial Human remains, debris found at crash site NYT: Cities lose out on stimulus funds Teen sailor nears end of trip around the world Life Section Front   Add Life headlines to your news reader: