New Jersey Lawmakers Restore Funding for the Civic Information Consortium

TRENTON — On Tuesday, New Jersey finalized its nearly $61 billion 2027 budget, which was amended to include $1 million in funding for the Civic Information Consortium, the groundbreaking program that has, since 2021, granted more than $12.5 million in private and public-sector funding to local news and civic information initiatives.

The draft budget proposal unveiled in March by Gov. Mikie Sherrill did not include any funding for the Consortium, which the year prior received $2.5 million from the state. Legislative lawmakers were able to add back in funding for the initiative, though the $1 million is below what was sought by advocates for the program. 

The Consortium is a first-of-its-kind initiative that state lawmakers created in 2018 to provide resources for trustworthy, community-based news-and-information projects. It has since supported innovative, public-interest newsrooms and projects that touch every corner of the state. The Consortium has gained a national reputation as a bold, new concept for local journalism and civic engagement while creating a funding model for other states to follow.

Mike Rispoli, Free Press Action’s senior director of journalism and civic information, said: 

“It’s been clear for months that New Jersey lawmakers would be facing tough decisions in this upcoming year’s budget, and many worthy programs were being eyed for reduced funding or being eliminated outright. Thanks to an outpouring of public support for the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, funding for this essential program has been restored and its critical work to invest in informed communities will continue. We want to thank legislative leadership and Gov. Sherrill for their continued commitment to supporting the Consortium and local news in New Jersey.

“The Consortium was created in 2018 through a grassroots effort to make sure that residents across the Garden State have access to trustworthy news and information. The initiative has greatly benefited local communities by investing public funds in news-and-information projects that improve civic life. The Consortium has created journalism jobs, strengthened the local media talent pipeline, invested in small businesses, and supported community-led solutions to keep residents informed. It’s thanks to the Consortium’s good work that community leaders and residents rallied to ensure continued state funding, sharing research and personal stories about how this historic initiative is making a real difference in the lives of everyday New Jerseyans. 

“While this restoration of funding is critical, the crisis facing news and information in New Jersey remains a significant and serious challenge for residents across the state. As we move into this new fiscal year, we will continue to work with New Jersey lawmakers to find ways to support the Consortium and identify opportunities to fully fund its critical work. This should include moving forward with proposals for dedicated sources of funding to achieve its goal of giving everyone in New Jersey access to trusted, high-quality news and information about where they live.” 

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