The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium announced on September 22 that it will renew funding for the grassroots journalism training program instituted by NJCH and Journalism + Design in partnership with four New Jersey community colleges.
The renewal award of $60,000 was among nine renewal grant awards announced by NJCIC, totaling $376,000.
“These renewal awards reflect NJCIC’s commitment to ensuring that people across New Jersey have access to trusted, relevant information about the communities where they live,” said Lisa Sahulka, Executive Director of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. “Each of these grantees is helping residents better understand local issues, participate in government and make informed decisions—and we are proud to invest in their continued growth and impact.”
The grassroots training program, part of NJCH’s Informed NJ initiative, offers tuition-free, noncredit certificate programs in community journalism at four New Jersey community colleges: Atlantic Cape Community College, Mercer County Community College, Middlesex College, and Sussex County Community College.
The certificate programs were designed with input from NJCH, Journalism + Design, and faculty members from each school. Each college’s program is delivered by expert faculty members and tailored to the needs of their communities.
Since 2023, the programs have trained dozens of community journalists, many of whom have gone on to contribute to local media outlets in their communities.
The New Jersey Civic Information Consortium was created by the State of New Jersey in 2018 to address the local news crisis. It provides financial resources and training, advances research and innovation, and strengthens trustworthy, community-based news and information across New Jersey. Since awarding its first grants in 2021, the Consortium has invested approximately $13.8 million in strengthening New Jersey’s civic information ecosystem.
Learn more about NJCIC at https://njcivicinfo.org/ and more about the grassroots journalism program at https://njhumanities.org/programs/community-journalism/.
