TRENTON -- NJN's future is in the Legislature's control today, as it decides whether a commission should study transferring New Jersey's public television and radio stations' assets to an independent non-profit. The bill, introduced last week and approved by Senate and Assembly committees, runs counter to a privatization proposal endorsed by Howard Blumenthal, NJN's interim executive director. Blumenthal wants...
The NJN studios in Trenton in April.TRENTON -- NJN's future is in the Legislature's control today, as it decides whether a commission should study transferring New Jersey's public television and radio stations' assets to an independent non-profit.
The bill, introduced last week and approved by Senate and Assembly committees, runs counter to a privatization proposal endorsed by Howard Blumenthal, NJN's interim executive director. Blumenthal wants the state to transfer all of the network's assets to a non-profit; a union representing network employees estimates the assets to be valued at $200 million.
Blumenthal's vision hasn't been completely well-received by some station employees, and the union representing 95 of NJN's 150 employees is airing a cable commercial claiming that his proposals would "destroy NJN, and the licenses could be gobbled up by Philly and New York." Lawmakers earlier this month suggested that they had too little time to consider such massive changes to New Jersey's only statewide news, educational and cultural broadcasts.
Gov. Chris Christie intends to halve NJN's funding, and wants it to operate independently — free of government support — by January. Critics say the state should not casually cede radio and television assets worth $200 million, by the calculation of CWA Local 1032, the employees union.
The bill under consideration today would extend NJN's current operating model to at least Oct. 15, the deadline for a proposed commission of 10 appointees to present a study on the stations' licenses and equipment; staffing and spending; and viability without government funding. Any changes to NJN would take place prior to July 1, 2012.
"NJN welcomes the formation of a task force that will bring together individuals who care about NJN's future," Blumenthal said in a statement issued Friday. "We look forward to working with state government to ensure the people of New Jersey continue to have its own non-commercial public media service."
Dudley Burdge, senior representative for the union, said the Legislature is acting wisely.
"If there is truly a comprehensive study and people really look at NJN, we think it will be a good thing," Burdge said.
The Legislature today also will vote on a fiscal 2011 budget that includes $1.98 million for NJN, roughly half its $3.9 million appropriation for the current fiscal year. The latest round of state funding would be depleted by January, leaving a hole to be filled by the NJN Foundation, the stations' fund-raising affiliate.
Blumenthal, in an interview this month, said the stations should be independent by July 1, the start of the 2011 fiscal year, so it could reorganize and focus on fall fund raising.
In the statement issued Friday, Blumenthal said the NJN boards were working with the Legislature and the Governor's Office on "this timing issue," and he noted that more than 300 people attended the foundation's annual benefit this month.
NJN hired Blumenthal in September as interim head of the network, at a salary of $129,000, and president of the foundation, for $25,000.
At the public meeting where his hiring was announced, officials said they were impressed with Blumenthal's credentials in the television industry, and they allowed him to continue as part-time chief executive at MiND, an independent station in Philadelphia. But within months, some staff were disagreeing with Blumenthal on NJN's direction, and dozens removed their names from the operating plan that he submitted to the Legislature.
This month The Record reported that Blumenthal's tenure at MiND has included a discrimination lawsuit, a fine for violating federal broadcast regulations and a 26 percent one-year pay increase.
NJN officials interviewed by The Record said they were unaware of the lawsuit, filed by an African-American woman who alleged a hostile work environment and who sought at least $50,000. Blumenthal would say only that the case had been settled.
He also characterized the $2,500 fine as "the normal course of doing business," and said the spike in pay was vacation-related, and "a liability on the books."