Project News

The Knight Digital Media Center did a deep dive into the ecosystem approach we are focused on here in New Jersey. “Whole systems approach aims to fortify New Jersey media.”

Dodge staff Molly de Aguiar and Chris Daggett and advisor Jeff Jarvis participated in a small Pew / Knight roundtable on the sustainability of nonprofits news. (What’s next for nonprofit journalism?” and “Big questions face news nonprofits on the road ahead”.)

PBS’ Mediashift reported on our 2013 conference at MSU “New Jersey: A Laboratory for Media Innovation.” (“In a fragmented media market, New Jersey hopes to thrive with mobile, collaboration”)

Partner News

Debbie Galant of the New Jersey News Commons was invited to Free Press’ 2013 National Conference for Media Reform to talk about information inequality and news deserts and included conversation of her work on behalf of New Jersey.

The J-Lab at American University featured New Jersey and MSU’s work in its report “News Chops: Beefing Up the Journalism in Local Public Media” in the chapter “New Jersey: Creating a Unique Media Hub.” A version of this chapter appeared on the Nieman Journalism Lab. (“In New Jersey, a university teams up with local news orgs to collaborate for impact”)

Debbie Galant of the New Jersey News Commons was interviewed by Streetfight, which focuses on the business of hyperlocal sites. (“With NJ News Co-op, Prof Debbie Galant Keeps To Her Hyperlocal Roots”)

Pilot Site News

2013 was a break-out year for Justin Auciello of Jersey Shore Hurricane News. He was profiled by the Christian Science Monitor (“Justin Auciello turns Facebook into journalism with Jersey Shore Hurricane News”); the Nieman Journalism Lab (“Journalists of the Jersey Shore: How a novice reporter built a news network from scratch”); and a report by Free Press (“A New Call to Protect Acts of Journalism”).

Streetfight has profiled Ned Berke, the founder of Sheepshead Bites on multiple occasions, drawing on his lessons and expertise for the larger field of local news start-ups. “Sheepshead Bites Founder: If You Meet the Market’s Needs, It’ll Meet Yours” and “Sheepshead Bites Editor Reveals the Secrets to His Hyperlocal Success“

The Lo-Down’s husband and wife team Ed Litvak and Traven Rice have been featured in both local outlets and national outlets including the Village Voice’s best New York City blogs and the New York View: “News Producer Goes Hyperlocal”

New Brunswick Today’s stories have made the regional and national news more than once, and their lawsuit against Rutgers and New Brunswick police helped the public get access to important police records. The NJ News Commons featured their work in early 2014.