Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the state’s transfer of the operation of the public television network to WNET’s New Jersey subsidiary, Public Media NJ, Inc. (NJ PBS), according to state legislation and  a programming and services agreement. The FCC licenses remained with the state.

 

For 40 years, Michael Aron took New Jersey’s political pulse. With shows that included “Reporters Roundtable”, his meticulous journalism, and one-on-one interviews with the state’s most powerful officials, Aron talked to everybody: New Jersey governors, Senate presidents, Assembly speakers, U.S. senators, and chief justices. Friends and colleagues took a moment to remember Aron who died Tuesday at 78.

“He was a consummate journalist, and a throwback of a most delightful kind of throwback back to an era where one person could command complete respect from all sides,” said Star-Ledger editor Tom Moran, who often sat in on “Reporters Roundtable.” Aron was curious about everything, Moran said.

And he wasn’t an original Jersey guy. A graduate of Harvard and Princeton — Aron worked in New York City, for Rolling Stone — before accepting a job offer at NJ Monthly magazine. He joined New Jersey Network and went on TV in 1984. Year by year, his stature grew. Newsmakers in Trenton always took his phone calls. He had a “reserved” seat for news conferences in the governor’s outer office.

“And I think it was (former New Jersey Gov.) Corzine who dubbed him the Dean of the Press Corps, but it stuck because it’s true,” Moran said. “I don’t think there’s any debate that he was the leader of the pack down there, and was relied on as the authoritative voice.”

“He was the GOAT. He was the guy who showed everyone the unglamorous street work of being a field reporter who everyone knew, who everyone respected,” said former NJTV News Anchor Mary Alice Williams. She said, few politicians ever turned down Aron’s requests for interviews. Every reporter who knew him can tell you why:

“He would never make snarky comments about someone that we were covering ever,” Williams said. “He was always fair no matter what. And I guess that’s why the answer was always, ‘Yes.’”

Aron often invited young journalists to join him on Reporters Roundtable — including Politico’s Matt Friedman.

“He put me on Reporters Roundtable when I was, you know, just a 20-something-year-old, a brand new reporter who didn’t know anything about New Jersey politics, but who helped learn about it in part from being on that show,” Friedman said. “I think Michael Aron probably helped start hundreds — I imagine — at least dozens of journalism careers, whether they stayed in New Jersey or not, from that show.”

Aron calmed their jitters about being on TV — would always ask reporters to — “Save it for the show.” Friedman also says — the veteran newsman had a sharp sense of humor, often singing onstage at the State House Correspondents Club shows.

He remained with NJN when former Gov. Chris Christie zeroed its funding and transferred the operation of the network to WNET’s New Jersey subsidiary, Public Media NJ, Inc. (NJ PBS), according to state legislation and  a programming and services agreement. The FCC licenses remained with the state. As years went by, Aron opted out of the anchor chair. But for friends and colleagues, he was always just a phone call away. And he left us with this mantra: “Remember, if you’re a reporter — New Jersey never lets you down.”

His legacy will always be felt in our newsroom.