Every community deserves a voice. How can we improve schools, fix public works, hold elected officials accountable and be better neighbors when we don’t even know what’s happening on our block?
Local media — when it’s done right — makes it happen. Because people rely on locally produced news and information to engage with their neighbors, learn about volunteer opportunities, make decisions about voting, run for public office, get information about small businesses and support their children in local schools.
But many of New Jersey’s local journalists have lost their jobs. Their newsrooms have shut down. Most towns get a constant loop of Philadelphia and New York City news instead of their own. Some get nothing at all.
New Jersey’s local media is in crisis but the state legislature can actually do something to fix it by passing the Civic Info Bill (Assembly Bill A4933 and Senate Bill S3303), introduced by State Assembly Majority Leader ...
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Every community deserves a voice. How can we improve schools, fix public works, hold elected officials accountable and be better neighbors when we don’t even know what’s happening on our block?
Local media — when it’s done right — makes it happen. Because people rely on locally produced news and information to engage with their neighbors, learn about volunteer opportunities, make decisions about voting, run for public office, get information about small businesses and support their children in local schools.
But many of New Jersey’s local journalists have lost their jobs. Their newsrooms have shut down. Most towns get a constant loop of Philadelphia and New York City news instead of their own. Some get nothing at all.
New Jersey’s local media is in crisis but the state legislature can actually do something to fix it by passing the Civic Info Bill (Assembly Bill A4933 and Senate Bill S3303), introduced by State Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald (D–Camden) and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D–Bergen). This bill allocates $100 million in proceeds from the sale of the state’s old public-media stations WNJN and WNJT to strengthen local media in communities around New Jersey.
The Civic Info Bill was introduced in June of this year but was not included in the budget for fiscal year 2018. Lawmakers still need to be urged to push for the legislation’s passage during the lame-duck session which beginning in November.
This is why we can’t stop now. Please support the Civic Info Bill by voting Yes and contact your lawmakers to let them know we need the media we deserve.
For further information on the bill and where we stand click here or contact James Thompson at [email protected] on how you can get involved with the campaign.
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