Updates

Lawmakers have responded to a crisis in local news coverage by dedicating public money to fund journalism in what is believed to be the first effort of its kind.

Correspondent Leah Mishkin recently sat down with Free Press Action Fund State Director Mike Rispoli and asked him how the Civic Info Consortium will work and who it will benefit.

Legislation establishing the nonprofit New Jersey Civic Information Consortium is awaiting a signature from Gov. Phil Murphy.

Among the money promised in this year’s budget is $5 million to fund a pioneering effort to help strengthen local journalism in underserved New Jersey communities.

This is an official statement that communities’ information voids are a problem worthy of government attention.

As journalism organizations reckon with audience distrust and failing business models, they continue to gravitate toward community engagement.

When New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed the state budget into law, he approved $5 million for a state media consortium intended to support local news.

Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign a bill that dedicates $5 million to strengthening local media in the state.

The state has set aside $5 million for a trailblazing nonprofit group seeking to boost coverage of local news in New Jersey.

Public-media advocates are calling the investment a historic legislative victory.