Public Media Ecosystem Report

The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium commissioned this report to examine the current state of public media and civic information in New Jersey and explore potential approaches for strengthening the state's information ecosystem. Developed with input from national media experts and a statewide design team, the report looks at changes affecting local journalism and public broadcasting across the country and considers how New Jersey could build a more coordinated system to support trusted news, civic information, and public-interest programming for residents.

The report is intended to serve as a model for the nation and inform ongoing conversations among policymakers, media organizations, philanthropy, and community leaders about the future of public media in the state.

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Key Findings

5 Key Takeaways: The Future of Public Media in New Jersey

1

New Jersey faces a significant shortage of local journalists

New Jersey ranks 49th in the nation in journalists per capita, with roughly five journalists for every 100,000 residents. This gap means many communities receive limited or inconsistent coverage of local government, schools, and public affairs.

2

Many communities lack consistent local news coverage

Only about 60% of New Jersey municipalities have a local news outlet producing regular reporting, leaving many communities without reliable sources of civic information.

3

New Jersey's media landscape is unique

Unlike many states, a large share of broadcast outlets serving New Jersey audiences are headquartered outside the state, often focusing coverage on neighboring media markets such as New York and Philadelphia. This creates challenges for consistent statewide coverage.

4

A stronger public media ecosystem could help address information gaps

The report explores a potential model for strengthening New Jersey's civic information ecosystem through:

Statewide public-interest content production
Collaboration and support across the media ecosystem
Sustainable funding for civic information

5

The report is intended to inform ongoing conversations

This report is not a final proposal. Instead, it is designed to provide research and potential models that can help guide discussions about the future of public media and civic information in New Jersey.

National Impact

A Model for the Nation

This report positions New Jersey as a potential leader in reimagining how states support public media and civic information in a rapidly changing landscape. As traditional funding structures shift and local news systems face increasing strain nationwide, states are exploring new approaches to sustaining reliable, community-centered journalism.

With its existing infrastructure—including the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, a strong network of nonprofit and community media organizations, and growing philanthropic investment—New Jersey is uniquely positioned to pilot a coordinated, statewide model for public media. The framework outlined in this report demonstrates how public investment, cross-sector collaboration, and a multi-platform approach to content distribution could work together to strengthen civic information at scale.

If refined and implemented, this approach could offer a replicable blueprint for other states seeking to build more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable public media ecosystems.

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Background

About the Project

This report was commissioned by the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium as part of its broader work to strengthen the state's civic information ecosystem. The project was developed in collaboration with a consulting team and informed by input from a statewide design group representing leaders in journalism, public media, philanthropy, higher education, and civic organizations.

The consulting team included Due East Partners, Public Media Company, and Free Press, who provided research, facilitation, and strategic analysis throughout the project.

The report reflects research on national trends in public media and local journalism, as well as conversations with stakeholders across New Jersey. It is intended to serve as a resource for policymakers, journalists, funders, and community leaders interested in the future of civic information in the state.

The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium supports local journalism and civic information across New Jersey through grants, partnerships, and research. By investing in local news organizations and ecosystem initiatives, the Consortium works to ensure communities throughout the state have access to reliable, independent information.

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