Jets article The morning after Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was injured early in the team’s opening game, the sports editor for The (Bergen County, N.J.) Record messaged a staff-wide query: Were there any long-suffering Jets fans on staff who wanted to express their thoughts in a first-person commentary? I volunteered. It published online and landed on Page 1A in print.

Front page of 'The Record' newspaper featuring a large headline 'Crash Landing' about Aaron Rodgers' injury in a Jets game, with photos of fans at a game and Rodgers being examined after injury.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers walking on the field during a game against the Buffalo Bills, with players and coaches nearby, some looking on, on a football field.

Jeff Pearlman profile I’ve long been a fan of best-selling author (and former Sports Illustrated writer) Jeff Pearlman. After his book The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson was published in 2022, I pitched a profile article to the features editor. Pearlman resides in California, but he was raised in Mahopac, N.Y., part of The Journal News’ coverage area, and his parents still lived nearby. 

A newspaper page featuring articles and photos. The main article discusses Jeff Pearlman's journalism career in Mahopac, with a photo of him sitting by the water wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. A smaller photo shows the Casper family in front of pink flowers in Carmel, and another photo shows two young women smiling in shopping bags. There is also an advertisement for Localiq at the bottom.
Photograph of Michael Boulos, owner of The Raconteur in Pleasantville, smiling behind the bar at The Raconteur Bar & Kitchen, with bar tools and liquor bottles in the background.

Music feature story The Record has always prided itself on a vibrant features report. I enjoyed writing the occasional music story for that department even while working full time on the night production desk. This was a piece was on the popular indie rock band Real Estate, whose founding members grew up in Ridgewood, N.J., an important part of the newspaper’s coverage area.

Front page of a newspaper titled 'Better Living' dated Saturday, March 18, 2017. The main headline announces Julian Lynch as the newest member of the indie band Real Estate, with a photo of five band members. The article highlights Lynch's background and involvement with the band. Additionally, there's an art review about 'Marsden Hartley's Maine' at the Met Breuer featuring an image of an art piece. A small photo of a cat with the headline 'Adopt a New Friend' is in the top right corner.
A group of five men standing together indoors, some with hands in pockets. They are dressed casually, with one wearing a cap. Behind them is a barrel tile wall and a door with a blue frame.

Feature story on bootleg concert recordings At The Record, the features editor liked my work and encouraged me to pitch story ideas. This was an early one, again rooted in my music fandom. It ran as a centerpiece story in August 2015.

A newspaper page with articles, images, and advertisements. The main headline is about a concert or music event titled "THE WEB'S THE TICKET" with images of a performer and a band on stage. There are smaller articles about a cerebral palsy appointment, a tiki bar, and a box office review of "Mission: Impossible." An ad promotes a website with free music downloads and concert recordings.
A newspaper page with various articles about local events. The main article discusses a street art exhibit in Bergen County and features a colorful image of street art. Another prominent article deals with free concert recordings available as bootlegs, with photos of musicians performing on stage. Additional sections include a list of upcoming activities and events, along with a colorful image of a vegetable salad and an illustration of a motorcycle.

Library Journal hired me as a freelance news reporter in 2010. Here are three of my articles:


June 3, 2024 On the Books: Library Legislation 2024
https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/on-the-books-library-legislation-2024-censorship


May 19, 2023 Mamaroneck Public Library’s Missing Funds Prompt Investigation, May 19, 2023

https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/mamaroneck-public-librarys-missing-funds-prompt-investigation


April 3, 2018 Suspects but No Answers in Rare Book Theft at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Library

https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/News%20/suspects-no-answers-rare-book-theft-pittsburghs-carnegie-library