Local think tank releases report on how to fill the news void in South Jersey

POMONA - South Jersey Forward, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank and advocacy organization, released its report on filling the local news void in South Jersey titled, The (Sad) State of Local Media in South Jersey and How to Change It.

By working togethercitizens, the private sector, and governmentwe can chart a path forward toward a revitalized local media landscape in South Jersey, said SJF founder Mike Suleiman. 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's recommendations include:

• Amending state law to allow for some public notices to be placed in all-digital news outlets.


• Establish sales aggregators so that advertising can be bundled among multiple news organizations, helping small outlets become profitable.


• Make it easier for news organizations to transition to nonprofit status.

This isn't an area where we'll accomplish solutions through government, said Suleiman. To the contrary, many of our recommendations must be implemented by the news industry and the general public. It's going to take all of us to fill the local news void in South Jersey.

This past summer, South Jersey Forward hosted two virtual roundtables with local journalists which formed the basis for this report. Both roundtables can be found here on the South Jersey Forward YouTube channel. Panelists included journalists from TAPinto, New Jersey Globe, 1400 WOND AM, 70and73.com, and Front Runner New Jersey.

South Jersey Forward is a nonpartisan and nonprofit think tank and advocacy organization that is committed to exploring bold public policy to solve our problems. Visit us at southjerseyforward.org to look at our past research and roundtables