We were in the room when it happened; New Jersey gets one powerful news source!

Furthering its commitment to New Jersey public affairs coverage, WNET acquired NJ Spotlight, the award-winning online news site known for its in-depth reporting and analysis of state policy and politics, from the Community Foundation of New Jersey. WNET is the national flagship PBS affiliate and operator of NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network. 

NJTV’s news division, NJTV News, and NJ Spotlight are each trusted, member-supported, award-winning independent news sources in New Jersey, and are now joining forces to bring a new, multi-platform approach to local, in-depth journalism in the state. NJ Spotlight will retain its brand and its news site, www.njspotlight.com, 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. 

“This acquisition is an important step into the digital future for public broadcasting and provides New Jersey with a comprehensive, multi-platform local news source,” said Neal Shapiro, President and CEO of WNET.  “The resulting collaboration between two award-winning and respected news teams sets a strong precedent for the future of regional news coverage.” 

“These two successful and respected news entities are joining forces to create a far greater whole, a natural fit that brings together NJTV News’ breadth and NJ Spotlight’s depth,” said John Servidio, NJTV’s General Manager and WNET’s Vice-President of Subsidiary Stations, who will also serve as General Manager for the Spotlight team.  “The result: furthering both entities’ public service missions.” 

“This move strengthens both NJ Spotlight and NJTV News, but the biggest winners are the residents of New Jersey,” said John Mooney, Founding Editor of NJ Spotlight.  “They will benefit from the increased focus and resources covering issues important to them, like education, healthcare and the environment. We’d like to especially thank the Community Foundation of New Jersey, NJ Spotlight’s home for the last nine years, and its President Hans Dekker, for all their support and encouragement to make this next step possible.”

“I’m excited by the possibilities for the product that will come from combining the state’s top broadcast journalists with the state’s top digital journalists,” said NJTV News Executive Producer Phil Alongi, who also serves as NJTV’s Director of Program Development. “This adds vigor to our local coverage and we can’t wait to get to work.”

NJTV’s Emmy-Award-winning weeknight newscast, NJTV News with Mary Alice Williams, one of only eight daily public television newscasts in the nation, has already worked closely with NJ Spotlight on several projects, including the 2018 Congressional debates. 

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