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Follow the gripping story behind The Asbury Park Press and Gannett NJ Newspapers' comprehensive investigation into the largest probe of the NJ Legislature. Discover the shocking details of a powerful state senator and mayor receiving high-paying jobs funded by taxpayers. Explore the broader issue of how such corruption was allowed to persist and its impact on New Jersey.
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Profiting from Public Service The story behind the series The Asbury Park Press and Gannett New Jersey Newspapers
How it came about • Local investigation leads to biggest probe ever of the New Jersey Legislature • Details, Details: A local town had put a powerful state senator on its payroll for $116,000 a year. The mayor, in turn, gets a $105,000 a year state job. • Broader issue: What led to this and how could this be legal?
Determine what the story is NOT about: It’s not a political story It’s not a story about Republicans or Democrats It’s not about who is running for office Determine what the story ISabout: It is about how your tax dollars are spent It is about how a corrupt system flourished It is about how it affects all of New Jersey Story development
Triangulate with readers Readers Information Writing
Look at Pay-to-Play money • Check registers – how the money is spent • Contracts database – who gets the money • Campaign contributions database • Pensions database – shows jobs, salaries over time • Professional services appointments, or no-bid contracts
Other sources used • Built database of 1,500 pages of financial disclosure records • Campaign contribution database of 500,000 records • Database of 3,000 bond issues in New Jersey worth $54 billion over five years • Profile database of lawmakers • 100+ people and experts
Common values • Build a relationship with readers by addressing issues they are concerned with: Property taxes, government waste and efficient services • Involve real people in your stories through photos and quotes • Give them news they can use – Drive them to the Web by placing massive amounts of information on the site in a user-friendly format
Results • Strong editorials led the way for voters • Powerful GOP Senate president defeated in what was once a safe district • Ethics becomes the number one topic in the campaign • Lawmakers clamor to pass good-government reform
Impact to date • Higher voter turnout in contested districts • Defeat of “ethically challenged” incumbents • Passage of sweeping ethics reform bills • Local towns and counties jump on the ethics bandwagon to ban pay-to-play and nepotism