14 weekly newspapers in the New Jersey Hills Media Group have signed a letter of intent with the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM) that would give the newspapers nonprofit status. These include:
- Bernardsville News
- Chatham Courier
- Echoes-Sentinel
- Florham Park Eagle
- Hanover Eagle
- Hunterdon Review
- Madison Eagle
- Morris NewsBee
- Mount Olive Chronicle
- Observer-Tribune
- Randolph Reporter
- Roxbury Register
- The Citizen
- The Progress
The papers cover Morris, Somerset, Essex and Hunterdon Counties in New Jersey, covering 52 municipalities.
The non-profit status would help preserve and expand community journalism in the state of New Jersey. Also, this is the first time a weekly newspaper group in the U.S. has tried to become a non-profit.
CNJLM executive director Amanda Richardson said:
“These weekly newspapers have always enjoyed the benefit of public-minded owners who live in the community. Four of the papers that have been published for more than 100 years. This conversion will ensure that they remain community-owned as they continue to provide quality community journalism, expand their coverage, serve as watchdogs on local government, and keep readers abreast of the news they need.”
Additionally, CNJLM has started a fundraiser with a goal of raising $500,000 as part of their effort for the weeklies to achieve non-profit status.
