Governor Phil Murphy's initiative to support local media in New Jersey, launched nearly seven years ago, is facing a significant shift. In August 2018, early in his first term, Murphy signed a bipartisan bill creating the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium (NJCIC) to bolster community-based news through financial aid.
Murphy expressed his belief in the Consortium as a means to combat misinformation, stating, "I believe the Consortium is a viable means to begin to combat the widespread proliferation of deliberately false or misleading information that threatens our democracy."
Since its inception, state funding for NJCIC has increased from $500,000 to $3 million. However, with nine months remaining before he leaves office, Murphy's latest budget proposal suggests eliminating this funding entirely. Additionally, it includes a planned 75% reduction in state subsidies for NJ PBS.
The current state budget allocates $1 million to NJ PBS; under Murphy’s new plan, this would be reduced to $250,000. This change raises questions about why Murphy is stepping back from an initiative he initially supported.
Concerns have been raised about whether these cuts are politically motivated or aimed at reallocating funds for other projects without thorough review. The necessity of government support for independent local news remains emphasized by those who argue that "a free press is democracy’s friend."
Challenges facing traditional funding sources for journalism are evident as advertising revenue shifts towards tech giants like Amazon and Google. Efforts by philanthropists such as John Thornton aim to fill this gap through initiatives like The Texas Tribune and the American Journalism Project.
Thornton’s approach was described as "venture philanthropy," raising over $225 million for digital nonprofit news outlets across 36 states. His vision underscores the importance of local journalism as essential public service akin to national defense or clean air.
In light of these developments and challenges faced by newspapers nationwide, readers are encouraged to actively support their rescue. As Linda Stamato notes: "Recognizing the profound challenge newspapers are facing...our way of life depends upon it."
New Jersey has played a pioneering role in supporting local journalism but faces potential setbacks if proposed cuts proceed unchallenged—risking its reputation as a defender of democratic values through robust media presence.
