After massive layoffs at News 12 earlier this week, South Jersey Forward (SJF) released a report today stressing the need for better investment in local media, especially in South Jersey.
“The state of local news coverage in South Jersey is…not good,” the report states. “The Press of Atlantic City now prints newspapers only three days a week and has eliminated deliveries. Gannett significantly reduced the newsrooms of the Vineland Daily Journal and the Courier Post, laying off award-winning journalists. We’ve gone from a time when every town council meeting was covered by at least one reporter to seldom or nonexistent coverage of local governments.”
The local news vacuum is particularly pronounced in South Jersey, the report notes, as local papers have consistently gone under, which has devastated the region’s media landscape, leaving citizens often under-informed and local governments less accountable.
“By working together—citizens, the private sector, and government—we can chart a path forward toward a revitalized local media landscape in South Jersey,” said Mike Suleiman, SJF’s founder. “A stronger local media presence is not only crucial for keeping communities informed but also for fostering transparency, accountability, and a sense of civic engagement.”
The report outlines major reforms that could revitalize local journalism throughout these communities. Such reforms would include: allowing some public notices to be published on all-digital platforms; increasing news outlets’ profitability by allowing sales aggregators to bundle advertisements across different news outlets; and, making it easier for news organizations to become nonprofits.
In addition to these overarching recommendations, the report also points to the need for the state government to uplift community journalists, those individuals who might not have proper journalism training, but who live in – and care about – their communities; this could include giving these individuals access to journalism programs at community colleges or nonprofits that are free or low-cost, so that they are better prepared to cover their localities.
“Often, passionate citizens who have an entrepreneurial spirit can maintain successful, credible local news outlets with nontraditional training,” the report noted.
Moreover, the report continuously underlines the vital role local news plays in building community, inspiring civic engagement, and fighting against corruption.
The need for a stronger news ecosystem became particularly pronounced this week, after the News 12 cuts that took out eight New Jersey-based journalists, including political reporter Alex Zdan.
These layoffs come at a time when state legislative elections are just under five weeks away – it is not inconceivable that voters will not have access to vital information before they vote, because there are fewer reporters.
In addition to today’s report, there have been pushes to expand local news coverage. A few weeks ago, for example, On New Jersey is set to launch a New Jersey-only streaming service that will provide New Jersey residents with 24/7 coverage focused exclusively on issues that impact the state and its residents.
“A stronger local media presence is not only crucial for keeping our communities informed but also for fostering transparency, accountability, and a sense of civic engagement,” the report concludes. “As we move forward, it’s incumbent on all of us to support and sustain the vital role that local media play in the fabric of South Jersey.”
Suleiman is also the Atlantic County Democratic chairman, but his involvement with South Jersey Forward is entirely separate.
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