New Jersey funding community journalism

The state legislature of New Jersey has set aside $5 million in the annual budget to aid community journalism, the New York Times and others reported.

The move, which many in media and politics would have thought as “unthinkable” in other times, is stirring little controversy. “There has been little outcry, underscoring for many local journalism’s precarious position and a growing willingness to experiment,” the Times said.

The legislation takes $5 million from the sale of old public television licenses, forming a nonprofit consortium that would fund reporting and boost civic engagement.

“It’s not about saving journalism in New Jersey,” said Mike Rispoli, state director for the Free Press Action Fund, an advocacy group that pushed for the legislation, told The Times. “It’s about making sure our communities are engaged and informed.”

News and Tech