Montclair State Unveils News Media Hub on Campus

Six of the state’s top media organizations can now be found at Montclair State University.  

The university’s School of Communication and Media announced Wednesday a newly formed alliance with AOL's Patch New Jersey sites, NJ.com, NJ Spotlight, North Jersey Media Group, Reuters and WBGO, who will join with existing on-campus news operations established by New Jersey Public Radio and NJTV. 

The school will provide the news organizations with full operational news bureaus and access to student internships. 

General Manager of NJTV John Servidio said in a press release that "... the new Center for Cooperative Media promises to further enhance our content-sharing opportunities with the school and other news outlets, resulting in more comprehensive news and information for the people of New Jersey.”

The media school was created last fall with the goal of expanding news coverage within the state, creating a hub for New Jersey media, building and maximizing alliances between the university and New Jersey media entities, and providing the university’s students and faculty with professional multi-platform opportunities and internships. 

“By organizing all of these top news and information entities under one roof here at Montclair State University, we are providing them with an easy way to effectively and collaboratively report the news of New Jersey and its communities,” said Merrill Brown, director of the university’s media school, in a press release. 

“The reporters and producers from each of the organizations on campus will still continue to work on their daily assignments, but will also have the opportunity to collaborate by simply walking down the hall and talking to each other and to University students and faculty.”

The new center is led by Matthew Frankel, associate director of strategic partnerships and initiatives at the media school. 

The news center is expected to be a focal point for New Jersey media, and it will serve as a national anchor for forums, guest lectures and research into the future of journalism.