Save local news now: The outlook is bleak without state and federal funding
Disclosure: Public Square Amplified is a grant recipient of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium and is grateful for their support of our mission to share news rooted in the community.
Trenton, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed 2026 budget spells bad news for local news, with funding to New Jersey Public Broadcasting (NJ PBS) being quartered from $1 million to $250,000, and the complete elimination of funding for the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. The Consortium, which was established through state legislation signed by Murphy in 2018, received $3 million in funding in the 2025 budget. With that funding now slashed to zero, the Consortium and its dozens of grantee news organizations are unrelentingly advocating for the governor and the legislature to rethink the budget supporting independent and public media.
Information is democratic power
The University of Oregon’s Agora Journalism Center released a comprehensive overview of the local news ecosystem in 2023, citing a wealth of studies from across the country that indicated a direct link between local news and civic engagement, particularly a correlation between access to information and voter turnout, especially in local and regional elections.
In November 2024, NJ Civic Information Consortium board member Chris Daggett sat down with Public Square Amplified to discuss the ongoing loss of print newspapers and the power of local news to breathe life into news deserts. At that time, Daggett highlighted the role of trust between hyperlocal news outlets and the communities they serve. Daggett’s views are largely backed by a 2024 Pew-Knight Initiative study showing that only 15 percent of respondents felt that local news wasn’t important to the well-being of their community. The second report from that study indicates that 66 percent of respondents use local news as a primary source for information about local politics. Pew Research also suggests that people who closely follow local news are more likely to join civic organizations in their communities.
What do these potential budget cuts mean for New Jersey?
Since its inception in 2018, the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium has granted over $9.3 million in funding to more than 80 organizations statewide to assist with technology, equipment, training, outreach, and newsroom capacity and expansion. Without the support of the Consortium, many of those news outlets could find themselves with catastrophic funding shortages, leading to a loss of local coverage.
“Saving local news isn’t just about preserving journalism — it’s about preserving democracy, accountability, and the voices of all people,” said Penda Howell, the founder and publisher of New Jersey Urban News, “In communities like ours, local news is often the only mirror we have to see ourselves, our struggles, and our power. Without it, we risk becoming invisible.”
The potential loss of funding to NJ PBS, especially its NJ Spotlight News division, is also already taking a toll. In March, ahead of the anticipated budget cuts, public media trade news aggregator Current reported that NJ Spotlight News had laid off seven staffers. Founded in 2010, NJ Spotlight News, backed by NJ PBS, has been seen as a trusted, independent source for local online and television news and political coverage.
What’s behind the budget cuts?
While Governor Murphy is remaining tight-lipped about his decision to drastically cut state funding to public and independent local media, the question remains: Is this a Hail Mary by the outgoing governor to return New Jersey to President Donald Trump’s good graces after suing the administration for federal funding pauses earlier this year? Or is the budget just a symptom of a trickle-down effect of the federal cuts to public media outlets like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting?
On May 1, after months of threatening action, Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media,” which alleges that outlets National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS have “fueled partisanship and left-wing propaganda with taxpayer dollars.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting maintains that it is a private non-profit organization authorized by Congress, and not a government entity that can be defunded via Executive Order.
Trump also attempted to fire three CPB board members, an action which resulted in a suit filed by CPB against the president, upholding its rights as a private corporation. A federal judge in the United States District Court in Washington, DC, blocked Trump’s attempted firing of three CPB board members and has set additional hearings. The brouhaha in Washington even spawned a hoax LinkedIn post from the beloved Sesame Street monster Elmo, who claimed to have been laid off from the classic public television children’s program due to budget cuts. While Elmo’s LinkedIn account may not have been genuine, the looming loss of funding for public media is a very real, very monstrous possibility.
Appealing to Trenton before the budget deadline
Regardless of Governor Murphy’s motives for the proposed budget, proponents of local news are appealing to Trenton ahead of the Jun 30 deadline for approval. Legislators concerned about the loss of funding for the New Jersey Civic Info Consortium and NJ PBS are listening to publishers, producers, and journalists who will be deeply affected by the cuts and bringing their concerns back to their colleagues on the Budget Committees.
“Local news is the lifeblood of a community, weaving together stories that inform, connect, and empower the people who call it home,” said State Senator Britnee Timberlake (D-34), “Independent, local journalism goes beyond the headlines, offering a trustworthy perspective free from corporate influence. By amplifying voices and highlighting the issues that matter most, it ensures that communities stay engaged and heard without external agendas shaping the narrative.”
Take a stand today! Contact Trenton and tell them to save local news!
Backing from Timberlake and other legislators will be critical in restoring funding for local news. Tell Trenton and Governor Murphy to save the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, NJ PBS, and all the local news outlets they support by contacting state representatives today!
Find more information at www.njcivicinfo.org and contact the budget hearing committees and your representatives today!
Contact members of the Senate Budget Hearings Committee
