NJTV News and NJ Spotlight join forces as WNET acquires NJ Spotlight from the Community Foundation of New Jersey to increase and amplify local journalism in the Garden State. NJ Spotlight will partner with NJTV News to create NJ-centric, multi-platform content and one of the largest and most comprehensive public affairs organizations in the state.
The acquisition and partnership creates a combined journalism force that reaches digital, broadcast, video and other platforms. NJ Spotlight’s reporters and work will appear on NJTV News’ Emmy-winning programming and social media, and reporting and video from NJTV News will supplement NJ Spotlight’s site and programs. On whatever platform you turn to for news, you’ll see collaborative work on issues like the state’s fiscal crisis and the challenges around education, healthcare, energy and the environment. The possibilities are endless, with innovation at the center of this new venture.
Overall, at a time when local news coverage across the country has been shrinking – and New Jersey has been especially hard-hit — this new partnership represents a new hope and opportunity for the growth and expansion of local news in the state and beyond.
NJTV’s news division, NJTV News, and NJ Spotlight are each trusted, member-supported, award-winning independent news sources in New Jersey. NJ Spotlight will retain its brand and its news site, and will operate in tandem with NJTV News both online and on-air. This new venture will keep New Jerseyans up to date on current news, public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. At a time of shrinking state and local news coverage nationwide, the combination will create one of the largest and most comprehensive news and public affairs organizations in the state.
NJTV’s Emmy-Award-winning weeknight newscast, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams, one of only eight daily public TV newscasts in the nation, has already worked closely with NJ Spotlight on several projects, including the 2018 Congressional debates.