In a key development in the creation of the new NJ PBS at Montclair State University, the school announced last week that it has acquired the assets of NJ Spotlight and reached a deal for its nightly news broadcast to appear on WNET for the next five years.
NJ Spotlight is the statewide news organization that has reported on New Jersey policy and government since 2010 and was acquired in 2019 by WNET, which then made it the dominant source of news for the NJ PBS nightly broadcast.
NJ Spotlight’s assets will be integrated with the new NJ PBS, which is operated by Montclair within its College of Communications and Media. Montclair became the programming and management operator of NJ PBS on July 1 – and will begin overseeing production in October.
It’s confusing so it’s worth clarifying: Montclair State University is the operator of NJ PBS, broadcasting on WNJB, WNJN, WNJS and WNJT. The station licenses are held by the state of New Jersey through the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority.
WNET, based in New York City, will continue to have a station available in New Jersey. Airing the local news broadcast will help fulfill the requirement for New Jersey-centric programming.
As for the NJ Spotlight asset acquisition, NJ PBS officials said they will keep the archive publicly available without a paywall and preserve existing article links where technically feasible, so that 16 years of reporting on the state budget, schools, health care, energy and the environment will be available to all.
To be clear, the asset acquisition of NJ Spotlight is only about its editorial assets – an archive of more than 26,000 articles published since 2010, and the njspotlightnews.org website.
The acquisition does not include personnel, though NJ PBS has retained John Mooney, NJ Spotlight’s founding editor, to lead the transition and support the growth of the NJ PBS News team.
The new NJ PBS team currently is interviewing for positions at the new entity. Current NJ Spotlight employees, many of whom have agreements to work until Sept. 30, figure to be strong candidates for the new organization.
Keith Strudler, Dean of Montclair’s College of Communication and Media, said bringing NJ Spotlight’s assets into the fold is a key step in a layered process.
“NJ Spotlight built a record of accountability journalism that New Jersey relies on, and that work will continue,” he said. “Integrating this tradition into the NJ PBS News team under one New Jersey-based operator ensures our state and its residents get the news and information they deserve, reaching the broadest possible audience.”
Mooney said he is glad the Spotlight brand will continue.
“Spotlight started from the premise that New Jersey needs somebody at the Statehouse, the school board, and the budget hearings to provide critical information and insight on their state’s policies and politics,” he said. “We are thrilled that our award-winning coverage will continue uninterrupted and now has a new permanent home in New Jersey.
“I’m grateful to Montclair for stepping up to ensure its future.”
