Press release

The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium (NJCIC) today announced the award of $754,650 in grants to 10 organizations providing local news across the state. This September round marks the Consortium’s third cycle of grantmaking this year and brings its total investment in strengthening local news and information in New Jersey to nearly $10.8 million since launching in 2021.

The September grants will support a wide range of projects—including expanding bilingual coverage in Hudson County, sustaining Spanish-language reporting in South Jersey, training student journalists at both the high school and college levels, and launching a new civic media platform centered on the lives, work, and cultural activities of New Jersey’s Muslim community.

“These projects demonstrate the power of locally driven news and information to strengthen democracy and empower communities,” said Chris Daggett, Board Chair and Interim Executive Director of the Consortium. “By investing in trusted voices, community partnerships, and the next generation of journalists, we are ensuring that New Jersey residents have the information they need to participate fully in civic life.”

Renewal grants

• Camden Parent & Student Union ($80,000) – Camden Parent & Student Union is a grassroots organization that empowers families through civic engagement. This grant supports CPSU’s civic education workshops, voter education efforts, and the reCAP bi-weekly radio podcast. Funding will also expand Amplified Studio, a youth-driven media initiative where young people create journalism and storytelling projects highlighting civic issues from their perspectives.
• The Central New Jersey Network ($75,000) – A nonprofit community television station, CNJN provides a platform for local expression while training residents in media production. Renewal funding will expand partnerships in underserved areas, broaden coverage of underrepresented voices, and provide hands-on training that helps build a more diverse and skilled media workforce in Central Jersey.
• Hammonton Gazette – Neighbors ($60,000) – Neighbors is an initiative of the Hammonton Gazette that fills local news gaps in Hammonton and its surrounding communities. This grant sustains and expands coverage by strengthening freelance capacity, including opportunities for Rowan University students. The project transforms news deserts into consistent reporting hubs while giving young journalists professional newsroom experience.
• Hammonton Gazette – Noticias ($60,000) – Noticias delivers vital Spanish-language coverage for South Jersey’s Hispanic population. This renewal funding supports ongoing translations and reporting for the Gazette’s Hispanic readership and expands the project to the Vineland Voice, improving critical information access for Spanish-speaking residents across the region.
• New Jersey Urban News ($120,000) – NJ Urban News is the state’s leading Black-owned news outlet, producing stories that uplift and inform Black communities across New Jersey. This grant supports the expansion of editorial staff and investigative reporting on public institutions while strengthening audience development initiatives to ensure the outlet’s long-term sustainability.
• NJ State House News Service ($120,000) – The State House News Service trains and mentors student journalists to cover state government and policy issues, publishing their reporting across New Jersey. This renewal expands the program to support 16 interns annually and broadens participation to six universities, ensuring more students gain firsthand experience in political and civic reporting.

New grants

• CAIR-NJ ($100,000) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, New Jersey chapter, is launching a statewide civic media platform, by and for Muslim-Americans. This grant supports the hiring of a communications associate, student internships, and expanded community engagement to ensure Muslim communities have a trusted source of civic information and news coverage.
• HudPost ($100,000) – HudPost is a digital media outlet serving Hudson County, one of the most diverse regions in New Jersey. With this grant, HudPost will hire two part-time reporters, launch bilingual print editions, and host a countywide town hall to deepen engagement. Funding will also strengthen newsroom infrastructure, helping the outlet expand coverage that reflects the voices and needs of Hudson County residents.
• The Tower Student Newspaper at Princeton High School ($13,700) – The Tower is a student-led publication at Princeton High School that provides young people with an essential platform for civic expression. Funding supports equitable student participation by covering technology upgrades and printing costs, ensuring that all students—regardless of financial background—can contribute to and access the school newspaper.
  
• The Signal at The College of New Jersey ($25,950) – The Signal, TCNJ’s student newspaper, has served as a vital training ground for emerging journalists for more than a century. This grant supports investigative student reporting across Mercer County, bi-weekly print distribution, and equipment upgrades. The project strengthens hands-on journalism training and expands local news coverage led by students.

For more about the Consortium’s work or to explore past grantees, please visit www.njcivicinfo.org/grantees.

About the New Jersey Civic Information: The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium is the nation’s first publicly funded nonprofit dedicated to strengthening local news and civic engagement. As a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership, the Consortium provides start-up and early-stage funding to innovative media and civic information projects across the state. By investing in trustworthy journalism, community storytelling, and training programs for the next generation of media professionals, the Consortium empowers underserved communities and helps build a healthier, more informed democracy. Learn more at njcivicinfo.org.