Published on October 6, 2023
MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium is thrilled to announce that $4 million has been earmarked for the Consortium in the State’s FY24 budget, beginning July 1. This renewed investment in the Consortium is a clear indication of the value that the state’s leaders place on the work that the organization’s grantees are doing across the Garden State.
As the media landscape continues to shift and change, it is becoming increasingly important to ensure that communities have access to the information they need to stay informed about and engaged in their communities.
This funding will enable the Consortium to continue delivering on its mission of providing support to local news outlets and organizations throughout the state. Specifically, the Consortium plans to use the funding to reinvest in current grantees, conduct an open call for new grants, and offer expanded and new training programs.
“I am immensely proud of the work our grantees are doing in their local communities and I know they will continue to make an impact,” said Board member Kim Pearson, an associate professor of Journalism and Professional Writing at The College of New Jersey.
The Consortium believes that local news is the backbone of a healthy democracy. When communities have access to reliable information, they are better equipped to make decisions that impact their lives and the lives of those around them. By supporting local news outlets and organizations, the Consortium is helping to build a stronger, more resilient media ecosystem that serves the needs of all New Jerseyans.
“Consortium grantees strengthen community voices regarding day-to-day activities and social and cultural richness that too often are unreported as traditional local news outlets significantly decline or are lost altogether”” said Chris Daggett, the Consortium’s board chair and interim executive director. “We are deeply appreciative of the public support provided by the State and supplemented by private foundations. New Jersey is the only state in the nation that provides such combined support to start and/or expand online, nonprofit local news organizations, which are the lifeblood of democracy.”
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