For many years, we, the residents of Lakewood, NJ have stood by The Lakewood Scoop, casting our loyalty and investing our faith in the platform since its inception. From starting as the first big bottom line, over the years, we have advertised with The Lakewood Scoop, expecting it to bring forward a fair and balanced representation of our community news.

Lately, however, we have noticed a concerning trend: unbalanced news representation. In the past eight days alone, there were two significant events that drew the attention of 20,000 people each, with notable world leaders joining us at these events. Unfortunately, these important happenings were ignored by The Lakewood Scoop. Instead, the platform chose to focus on car crashes and other lesser significant incidents.

This selective reporting is a misrepresentation of our vibrant TORAH Lakewood community, and we, as the loyal users, deserve better. If the platform is not ready to share the news that interests the community, then it is only fair that they change their name and cease to use the "Lakewood" logo, which they no longer seem to be representing. 

We implore The Lakewood Scoop to step up and function as the true voice of the community that it once was by covering the events and issues that interest us. If not, we demand a change in their name to reflect the type of content they wish to focus on And we will start advertising on the the other sites that have our interests.

Sign our petition to contribute to this crucial fight for fair representation of our community in our local media.  

Below is a letter that was sent to a local news site that was the inspiration to create this petition.

Written by a Jackson Baalabus. 

Lakewood holds a unique place in our hearts, being the town that the revered Rosh Yeshiva R’ Ahron Kotler built the renowned Beis Medrash Govoha (BMG) in. For over half a century, BMG has been the cornerstone around which the community thrives. Even today, as many Lakewood and Greater Lakewood residents may not directly connect with BMG, there remains a deep-seated understanding that Torah is our guiding principle. The thousands who dedicate their lives to learning at BMG are the very light and pride of our town.

With this perspective, it is both shocking and disheartening to witness the actions of the oldest and most well-known frum media site—one where virtually all yeshivas and organizations choose to advertise, and where the Jewish Content Network holds a stake. This media outlet, inexplicably, refuses to cover news related to BMG. Imagine a lighthouse that suddenly decides to stop illuminating its own harbor, leaving ships to navigate treacherous waters in the dark. Tens of thousands attended the Adirei Torah event, yet this site chose not to share photos or information. Similarly, when BMG hosted yesterdays gatherings of the Gedolei Hador, they opted to report on trivial accidents and inconsequential news instead.

This refusal to highlight our town’s spiritual heart is profoundly misguided. To ignore a BMG Rosh Yeshiva event is literally Mivazeh Talmidei Chachamim. We rely on these figures for guidance, wisdom, and community cohesion. The lack of coverage alone should render this publication unfit for our trust and support. Every Rav should raise their voice to condemn this public affront.

Even more troubling is the motivation behind this media blackout. My sources indicate that the publication is retaliating against BMG for its stance on digital billboards. The Rosh Yeshiva, maintaining the community’s values, opposed the installation of large, potentially inappropriate digital billboards. These billboards, now owned partially by the media site, represent a sore point. It’s as if a town crier, offended by the mayor’s ban on disruptive town square ads, chooses to stop announcing critical town events out of spite.

In light of this pettiness, we must ask ourselves: Is this a trustworthy publication? Should we continue to read and support it?

Our community deserves better. Just as we wouldn’t rely on a clock that tells time only when it suits its own interests, we must question the reliability of a media source that turns a blind eye to the heart of Lakewood. Let’s ensure our support goes to those who genuinely represent and uphold our community’s values.

Thankfully there are alternatives.