(As an article published by the Poynter media website about The Local noted, paraphrasing a tweet from President Trump<br />condemning journalists, Montclair could be described as a “bedroom community of the enemies of the people.”)<br />“Some people would argue that what happens on the local basis is more important than what happens on the national<br />basis,” said Linda Moss, a reporter who covers municipal government, a beat she once had for The Montclair Times.<br />“These are things that hit home for people every day,” she said, “and these are the things we’re writing about and focusing on.”<br />Journalism’s struggles have been acutely felt in New Jersey, where the press corps covering the state government in Trenton has dwindled in recent years,<br />and in the northern part of the state, newspapers, including The Star-Ledger and , have reduced their staffs and their coverage.<br />“It sharpens our skills, it makes us better, and ultimately the reader benefits from<br />that competition.” He added, “I know we’ve been there for a long time, with a great track record, and we’re committed to doing journalism that makes a difference in Montclair.”<br />The Local joins a relatively crowded field for a town the size of Montclair, now with another weekly newspaper<br />and digital outfits like Baristanet and Patch that cover the area.<br />Last year, the North Jersey Media Group, which includes The Record<br />and a constellation of community newspapers, like The Montclair Times and The Nutley Sun, was sold to the Gannett Company by the family that had owned The Record since 1930.
