Welcome to your new weekly newspaper

By Donna Kenyon
Executive Editor

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Criterion Sentinel, a newspaper that blends the traditions of two family-owned companies.

The Criterion, a standard bearer in local mailboxes since 1952, has been acquired by Newspaper Media Group (NMG), which owns the former Sentinel and nearly 60 other community newspapers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Publisher Joe Eisele said, “We are excited to carry on the proud family tradition of informing the community of local events and announcements that the residents of Metuchen and Edison have enjoyed since 1952. Coupled with our Sentinel, The Criterion Sentinel will provide local and relevant community news, as well as a comprehensive community calendar, to these towns every single week.”

Eisele is publisher of NMG’s Central New Jersey stable of newspapers: The Princeton Packet, Hopewell Valley News, Windsor-Hights Herald, Cranbury Press, Hillsborough Beacon, Sentinel, Examiner, The Atlantic Hub, Suburban, Independent, News Transcript, Tri-Town News and Staten Island Business Trends.

 NMG has grown from a distribution company started by owner and CEO Rich Donnelly in his brother’s garage more than 40 years ago. Mr. Donnelly is committed to providing excellent journalism in his company’s newspapers.
In addition to owning 14 newspapers in Central New Jersey, NMG’s library of newspapers includes the Northeast Times, South Philly Review, Philadelphia Weekly, Lower Bucks Times and the Sun Newspapers.
The new Criterion Sentinel will be based in NMG’s Manalapan office with its 13 sister publications spanning five counties in Central New Jersey. The NMG corporate headquarters is located in Cherry Hill.
Owned by the Crane family since it was established in Metuchen, The Criterion brings its good name and reputation to the quality products produced each week by NMG.
The Criterion was founded by the late Bill Crane Sr., who started the publication in his family home’s basement. The paper continued in the family tradition with his son and daughter, Christopher Crane and Priscilla Hudson, serving as publishers until selling the publication to NMG.
The publishers of The Criterion wanted to address their readers and advertisers in the following letter:

To our valued client and friend:

Over our 65-year history, our family has endeavored to provide you with the most extensive, effective and guaranteed means of getting your business message to the community. We have been proud of the fact that no other local media can match the reach and value with give you.

Today, the market landscape is dramatically different, and over time it has become increasingly more difficult for us to afford to provide you the sheer scope and volume of coverage, without burdening you with excessive rate increases.

Happily, we are pleased to announce that The Criterion News Advertiser has been purchased by Newspaper Media Group. NMG is a powerful, market leading enterprise with the resources to continue providing you with the extensive and cost-effective exposure you and your business have come to expect. We have every confidence in their abilities.

We look forward to your continued patronage and trust in marketing your business to the community.

Our best regards,

Christopher Crane
Priscilla Crane Hudson