Twenty organizations, including environmental groups, recreational clubs and firefighters union, called the network a 'public interest voice'
The crew works in the control room during a broadcast of the evening news at the New Jersey Network Studios in Trenton, in this April 2010 file photo.TRENTON — New Jersey advocacy organizations have banded together to form a coalition with one goal: keeping New Jersey Network from going dark.
Twenty organizations — including environmental groups, recreational clubs and a firefighters union — called the teetering network a “public interest voice” that “showcases local history and culture, exposes environmental crises, and shines sunlight on the darkest corners of state and local government.”
The organization, called “Keep the NJ in NJN,” said it’s starting a lobbying push and has launched a website, keepthenjinnjn.com.
The network’s future has been uncertain since Gov. Chris Christie in March proposed ending its state subsidy and cutting its workers from the state payroll. Earlier this month, 130 of its state workers got 45-day layoff notices. The governor and Legislature have been grappling with how the network can continue on without a state subsidy, but have not settled on a plan. If nothing is done by Dec. 31, it could go off the air.
One potential plan involves having public broadcasting stations from New York or Philadelphia take a leading role in running the network.
“If NJN’s assets are given to someone from New York or Pennsylvania, NJN will quickly become just another New York or Philly station,” said said Dominick Marino, President of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, which is a member of the coalition. “New Jersey needs and deserves our own public television network.”
Other members of the coalition include the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, the Latino Action Network, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the Communication Workers of America Local 1032, which represents NJN’s unionized workers.
Previous coverage:
• Experts consider options to strengthen N.J. public media programs, in wake of NJN troubles
• N.J. officials consider N.Y., Philadelphia public broadcasting services to take over NJN
• N.J. Assembly Speaker Oliver vows to find a way to prevent shutdown of NJN
• N.J. Assembly Speaker Oliver vows to find a way to prevent shutdown of NJN
• NJN employees receive layoff notices as N.J. moves station workers off payroll