New Jersey Governor Signs Literal State-Funded Media Bill
The so-called “Civic Info Bill” was passed by the state legislature in June and will create the Civic Information Consortium, a nonprofit organization that gives grants to promote media in “underserved communities, low-income communities and communities of color.”
Applicants apply for grants by proposing a “collaboration” between one of five public universities and a community organization, a media outlet, or a member of the state’s technology sector. The proposal must also “offer a clear benefit to communities.”
One goal of proposed grants should be to “better meet the information needs of low-income communities and racial and ethnic communities that have been underserved by the media.”...
