Map Shows Local News Sources Across New Jersey

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Local news can be its own ecosystem of constantly evolving sources, especially in an age where online and digital media are increasingly taking over the spotlight. But which New Jersey towns have the most prodigious networks of journalism?

The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University recently released a comprehensive list of local news outlets across New Jersey. The massive, two-year effort has been dubbed the “News Ecosystem Mapping Project.”

• Learn more about the project and its methodology here
• See the map here

The center offered the following statement about the project:

“In this time of high news-need, local journalism has become more important than ever. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, researchers were looking for new ways of seeing the local news landscape amidst the enormous disruptions of the digital revolution. The Center for Cooperative Media’s News Ecosystem Mapping Project is a response to the desire to better understand the local news landscape of New Jersey and beyond.”

Researchers wrote:

“Over the last two years, we have been building a database of outlets providing local news to residents of New Jersey. To do this, we compiled and de-duplicated 14 different lists of local news providers, including those produced by press associations, digital news networks, and trade organizations. Because of New Jersey’s somewhat unique position between two major media metropolises, New York City and Philadelphia, the list includes several outlets that are based across state lines.”

The Center for Cooperative Media continued:

“The map includes news providers from all mediums – newspapers, digital-first or digital-native online outlets, radio stations, and television stations. Included within the map are outlets that primarily serve ethnic communities, university newspapers, and religious media outlets that provide timely news and information about those important institutions. We also gathered information such as the outlet’s website (if any), its ownership structure (independently owned versus by a conglomerate), and coverage area, as reported by the outlet.”

“Our research yielded a final tally of 779 – a significant number, but one that is difficult to compare because, to our knowledge, no other state has a comparable list,” the center stated. “Our hope is that this research can serve as a proof-of-concept that can be replicated elsewhere.”

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