Welcome to “The Newsroom Digest,” a newsletter from the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University that tracks the latest developments in New Jersey local news.
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Join us for a bi-weekly discussion of sustainable journalism pathways, current funding opportunities, and news training resources, and for behind-the-scene stories that champion our newsrooms, journalists, and media makers.
The Newsroom Digest keeps you posted on the shake-ups that challenge and innovations that strengthen our news ecosystem. And in this inaugural edition, we begin with an in-house announcement: As part of our five-year strategic plan to grow and better support NJ news organizations, we welcome Cassandra Etienne to the team as assistant director of programming and membership.
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A message from our new assistant director of membership and programming:
 “In this role, I'll be managing Center initiatives including the South Jersey Information Equity Project to support information sharing and storytelling by and for Black communities, and the Loved and Lost Project, a joint effort by CCM and North Jersey.com honoring the lives of New Jerseyans lost to COVID-19. I also forward to working with you, members of the NJ News Commons, to recognize and amplify the vital reporting and information you provide in service to readers across the state."
"Given the news industry shifts and cutbacks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, I appreciate your continued efforts—often with limited funding and significant logistical challenges—to engage and inform New Jersey communities,” Cassandra writes in her first message to the NJ News Commons.
Read the full announcement for more details about CCM’s restructure, including a new, expanded role for our own Joe Amditis!
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🚀 Just launched!
Did you know that two new publications recently launched in New Jersey?
The New Jersey Monitor, is "an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news site that strives to be a watchdog for all residents of the Garden State." Led by editor Terrence T. McDonald—a New Jersey native and veteran journalist covering Trenton politics and municipal government—The New Jersey Monitor tracks public policy and strives "to hold powerful people accountable and explain how their actions affect New Jerseyans from Montague to Cape May."
NJ INDY is an alt-weekly style digital news site covering music, and arts and culture, reports on issues “ignored or bungled by the traditional media, often with a touch of irreverence.” Editor/publisher Matt Cortina—previously of the Boulder Weekly, the San Clemente Times, and NJ.com—welcomes submissions and collaboration with passionate storytellers from across New Jersey.
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📰 Legal ads removed from Trentonian
In a joint statement released last week, The New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists and the New Jersey Press Association condemned Trenton City Council's vote to remove legal ads fromThe Trentonian newspaper.
The council voted 4-2 earlier this month to strip legal ads—public notices about foreclosures, hearings, legislation and other government actions—and a reported $10,000 in city-allocated funds for the ads from The Trentonian. The Council will continue to publish legal notices in The Times of Trenton.
The statement from NJPA and NJ-SPJ cited the 75-year-old paper’s award-wining investigation and decreed the vote as backlash for reports unfavorable to the City Council:
“This move threatens the newspaper’s economic base. Council members behind this are not masking their selfish motives. They say it is because they don’t like The Trentonian’s reporting…The Council’s action is a direct attack on the public’s right to know what goes on in City Hall and it sets a dangerous precedent that tax dollars can openly be manipulated for political gain in New Jersey.”
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🤝 Another NJ newsroom unionizes
Journalists at the Asbury Park Press, Home News Tribune and Courier News made the announcement on August 19. So far, more than 70% of eligible employees have opted into the APP-MCJ Guild, which will be part of the The NewsGuild of New York Local 31003. Gannett, the owner of all three publications, declined to voluntarily recognize the union.
“Our newsrooms have served our communities for over a century, and by forming the APP-MCJ Guild, we are ensuring our journalists are given the necessary means to serve for the next 100 years,” said Ryan Ross, an on-air host and visual journalist at Asbury Park Press.
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APPLY NOW:
Entrepreneurial Journalism Creators Program
The Center is sponsoring a scholarship for CUNY's entrepreneurship program. The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism offers an online curriculum that helps independent journalists and media-makers to develop newsletters, podcasts, websites and more to better serve their audiences.
Planet Princeton publisher and founding editor Krystal Knapp is a graduate, and we’d love to see a NJ news organization take part! Learn more and apply here by August 29.
NOW HIRING:
Project Coordinator, South Jersey Information Equity Project
The Center for Cooperative Media is expanding the South Jersey Information Equity Project thanks to funding from Independence Public Media Foundation. The Center seeks a part-time Project Coordinator who will lead the South Jersey Information Equity Project’s efforts. We hope to kickstart this implementation phase in September, so we encourage candidates to review the posting and apply ASAP. Email Cassandra Etienne at etiennec@montclair.edu with questions.
Metro Reporter, USA TODAY
USA TODAY, part of Gannett Co., Inc. is looking to fill a Metro Reporter position. “We are looking for a fearless reporter who can land the tough interviews, dig into data and public records, and write with clarity and authority.” View full posting and application instructions here.
Reporter, high school sports, USA TODAY
MyCentralJersey.com, part of Gannett and the USA TODAY NETWORK, is seeking a reporter to cover high school sports. The position is part-time, 25 hours per week. View full posting and application instructions here.
Culture, Identify and Diversity reporter, NJ Advance Media/NJ.com
NJ Advance Media is seeking a Culture, Identify and Diversity reporter dedicated to telling the stories of a diverse range of New Jerseyans; illuminating the state’s complicated history and challenging present; and exploring the ways in which race and identity inform the news of the day. This reporter will amplify the voices of people who identify within a marginalized group and help us reach new audiences and communities with our coverage. More info here.
Manager Producer, News and Next-Day Enterprise, NJ Advance Media/NJ.com
NJ Advance Media is seeking a Manager Producer, News and Next-Day Enterprise, to join its editorial leadership team. This position will be responsible for editing both breaking news stories as well as “next-day enterprise” — deeper dives into the news of the moment. More info here.
Breaking and local news reporter, NJ Advance Media/NJ.com
NJ Advance Media is seeking a versatile breaking and local news reporter ready to handle a variety of statewide assignments with immediacy while also developing short and longer-term enterprise. The ideal candidate is someone who can move quickly and pivot regularly, someone capable of racing out to cover a breaking news situation, but also pitching and executing ideas of their own. More info here.
Entertainment and Experiences Reporter, NJ Advance Media/NJ.com
NJ Advance Media is looking for someone who is knowledgeable and passionate about concerts, Broadway shows, comedy shows, festivals and other in-person live entertainment to contribute to its growing Content Innovation department. The Entertainment and Experiences Reporter will write multiple stories daily geared toward SEO and commerce/affiliate marketing that is intended to help users find deals and navigate the various ticketing merchants and platforms. More info here.
Got an open job or other opportunity? Let us know and we'll feature it! Email info@centerforcooperativemedia.org
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🎉 Celebrating partner achievements
Simon Galperin, founding director of the Bloomfield Information Project, is one of 10 John S. Knight Community Impact Fellows for 2021-2022. The fellowship, awarded to veteran and emerging journalism leaders promoting media equity, particularly in communities of color, recognizes Simon’s work to create “a community-driven information marketplace to address a lack of local news and information for working-class and people of color” throughout the Bloomfield Information Project.
NJ News Commons members Clyde Hughes of Front Runner New Jersey and Kenneth Miles of the Trenton Journal have been selected to participate in Facebook’s Bulletin news service. Facebook has pledged $5 million to assist writers wanting to start or continue publishing free and paid Bulletin newsletters that are then shared across the social media platform, posted to the web and emailed to subscribers.
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📚 What we're reading
Covering the Pandemic: Earlier this month, the New York Times wrote that while “Many local media publications and stations have reported responsibly and factually on the pandemic,” some—includingThe Freedom’s Phoenix and The Atlanta Business Journal—have published misinformation from vaccine skeptics.
Growing Reader Revenue: ICYMI: The recent INN Index Report on the state of nonprofit news observed that despite 2020 being a year of crises, nonprofits posted revenue, production and audience gains. In fact, from 2019 to 2020, individual donor revenue grew for nearly two-thirds of outlets, a trend primarily driven by nonprofits’ increased and dedicated coverage of election news, racism and social disparities, as well as public health issues throughout the pandemic. Here INN shares 3 ways for nonprofit news outlets to take individual giving to the next level.
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Feedback sought for NJ Civic Info Consortium
The NJ Civic Information Consortium is is seeking feedback on its first round of grants and soliciting ideas about how the substance and process should change, if at all. Each of the three sessions will focus on feedback from a different region of New Jersey:
- SOUTH JERSEY (9/23 at 6:00 pm)
- CENTRAL JERSEY (9/27 at 6:00 pm)
- NORTH JERSEY (9/29 at 6:00 pm)
Sign up here to select a date and attend. Questions? Contact the Consortium via email at info@njcivicinfo.org.
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Collaborative visioning session for the future of New Jersey news – Friday, Sept. 17
Earlier this year, the NJ Civic Information Consortium, the Center for Cooperative Media, Free Press, and the NJ Local News Lab Fund (a partnership of the Democracy Fund, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and Community Foundation of New Jersey), joined forces to launch a collaborative planning effort to reimagine, strengthen, and sustain local news in ways that support community needs. Click here to learn more and join the next meeting!
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📭 Get in touch!
Thanks for checking out our first issue of “The Newsroom Digest.” We look forward to bringing you the next edition in two weeks. In the meantime, please reach out with any news items and, developments at your publication, including accomplishments, staffing updates, and examples of community impact.
Let us know: info@centerforcooperativemedia.org
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