07/10/2025
New Jersey is terrible when it comes to local journalism coverage, with only 5.1 journalists per 100,000 residents compared to the national average of 8.97. This devastating shortage leaves entire communities without adequate local news coverage, creating journalism deserts that threaten democratic accountability for 9.5 million residents.
The crisis stems from three critical factors: New Jersey's position between major media markets that siphon away resources, massive layoffs by dominant newspaper chains like Gannett that gutted local newsrooms, and reliance on part-time startup outlets that cannot match full-time reporting capacity.
Organizations like the NJ Civic Information Consortium and the Center for Cooperative Media are fighting back with targeted funding, training programs, and innovative support systems. The Consortium has already provided grants to news outlets in 18 of the state's 21 counties and serves as a local chapter of Press Forward, which has raised over $500 million for local news nationally.
While these efforts represent progress, the scale of the crisis demands sustained investment and commitment to ensure every New Jersey community has access to the local journalism essential for informed civic participation and holding power accountable.
Read the full report: https://muckrack.com/research/local-journalist-index
NJ’s geographic position and number of start-ups contribute to the low reporter count
