
From the classroom to the newsroom: Student finds passion and purpose in community journalism program
When Julia Meriney went back to school after raising her three sons, one of her first classes was Professor Holly Johnson’s Honors English 102 at Mercer County Community College. At the time she was simply seeking a credit toward her degree, but what she found was a passion and sense of purpose.
In May of 2024, Meriney graduated from MCCC with highest honors and received numerous academic awards, many of which are connected to her time as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The College VOICE, for which Professor Johnson is the faculty adviser.
Her connection with the VOICE also led to her involvement with the school’s J-Lab, part of the Fueling Community Journalism at NJ Community Colleges initiative of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
Project TeamS
NJCH and Journalism + Design at The New School are pleased to announce the members of our 2023-24 “Fueling Community Journalism Through NJ Community Colleges” cohort!
Each college will receive a $40,000 award from NJCH and J+D to train faculty members and fund tuition-free, noncredit certificates in community journalism at their institutions. These certificate programs, which will be unique to each college, will be developed by the selected colleges through training and support from NJCH/J+D and other local news experts.
Beginning in July 2023, representatives from each college will take part in intensive workshops that will explore how to create, facilitate, and sustain certificate programs that incorporate local voices and community needs. Colleges also will have the opportunity to build sustainable connections with local media partners and nonprofit organizations in their regions through a Spring 2024 community journalism/community college convening, as well as through NJCH/J+D-supported seed grants for the colleges’ community partners. The colleges will launch their inaugural certificate programs in Spring 2024.
Press release
Four New Jersey community colleges have received $40,000 awards to train faculty members and fund tuition-free, noncredit certificates in community journalism at their institutions.
Media coverage
- TapInto Sparta, June 29
- NJ Herald, July 5
- Sparta Independent, July 10
- Community College Daily, July 17
- ROI-NJ, July 21
- The Trentonian, July 21
Atlantic Cape Community College



Mercer County Community College


Middlesex College



Sussex County Community College



People










Contact
For questions about the Fueling Grassroots Journalism at NJ Community Colleges program, contact Project Director Cole Goins, cole.goins@gmail.com.
Header photo by Adeolu Eletu and ConvertKit on Unsplash