Something interesting has been happening on the other side of the Hudson. In August, the New Jersey legislature passed the "Civic Information Bill," which designated $5 million in state funding for local news. The state, sandwiched between the local television markets of New York and Philadelphia, has relied heavily on newspapers in the past for local news. Thus, New Jersey has been hit heavily by drying up local papers. Critics have, of course, rightfully pointed out concerns about anything resembling government-funded media, even as praise for the measure tumbled in from the organization Free Press to The Philadelphia Inquirer. But, more than anything, the New Jersey proposal is indicative of the dire state of affairs when it comes to the financial health of local news.
The Local News Crisis: Can Television and Digital Fill the Gap?
