Community Voices
CNJN's Flagship Program
Community Voices launched in early 2025 in the capital city of Trenton, New Jersey, and continues today as CNJN's flagship initiative.
Its mission is to strengthen New Jersey communities by equipping growing nonprofits with a dedicated media arm; showcasing their work and mission as well as connecting them with the support systems necessary for producing quality content.
Participating partner organizations gain access to professional media infrastructure that would otherwise be financially out of reach. The program provides technology access, hands-on training, and subsidized production resources, along with distribution across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms.
Read more below to learn about the program in detail.
Community Impact
We understand how difficult this moment is for community media. The institutions that once helped local stories reliably reach the public are under attack. Print is fading, local journalism is shrinking, and public television is facing increasing financial and political strain in New Jersey.
The numbers make this problem clear. Northwestern's 2024 State of Local News report found that more than 3,300 newspapers have disappeared since 2005, with over two papers closing every week. Yet Pew reports that 85% of Americans still believe local news is important to their community's well-being. Meanwhile, in New Jersey, state support for NJ PBS was cut by 75%, reducing its appropriation from $1 million to $250,000.
Our strategy is simple: equip the community with tools to create and distribute critical messages. We distribute content across broadcast, streaming, and social platforms so that wherever people are looking, these stories have a chance to find them. CNJN works to amplify impactful work that is often underutilized, missions that are underrepresented, and stories that might otherwise go untold.
CNJN content across social platforms has generated hundreds of thousands of views, expanding the reach of community voices beyond traditional media.
A wide range of community organizations have come through our doors. Some produce programming themselves, while others participate in interviews, panels, or features created with CNJN.
Through interviews and feature segments, we produce a growing number of stories each year. These productions highlight community leaders, organizations, and NJ residents.
Follow Along
@centraljerseytv on Instagram
Participant Highlights
A look at some of the organizations producing original content through Community Voices.
Forged 2 Prosper
Father Center of New Jersey
Forged 2 Prosper, produced by The Father Center of New Jersey, features conversations with community members, leaders, and families about responsible fatherhood, parenting, and child development. The podcast shares practical insights and lived experiences that help parents, children, and communities grow stronger together.
Capital Conversations
The Trenton Journal
Capital Conversations, produced by The Trenton Journal, features interviews with community leaders, elected officials, and nonprofit directors about the issues shaping New Jersey’s capital city. The program highlights local developments, emerging challenges, and initiatives affecting Trenton, its surrounding communities, and residents alike.
2025 Housing Series
New Jersey Homelessness Action Collaborative
In 2025, the New Jersey Homeless Action Collaborative produced a series sharing firsthand experiences of homelessness statewide. Through interviews and personal stories, the program highlights the realities of housing instability, its human impact, and how close housing insecurity often can be to home.
How the Program Works
A four-part model built to remove every barrier between a community organization and a professional broadcast.
Subsidized Studio Access
Partner organizations receive full studio time at $65 per hour; a fraction of market rate; removing the financial barrier to professional production.
Media Training
Our staff trains participants & their teams in camera operation, audio, editing, and on-air presentation so every team can produce confidently and independently.
Post-Production Editing
Complimentary editing, color correction, and graphics work are included with each production, ensuring every story is broadcast-ready and polished.
Multi-Platform Distribution
Finished content airs across our cable channels, streaming apps, YouTube, and social media; reaching 200,000+ viewers region-wide.
Get Involved
Apply to Participate
CNJN is seeking organizations, nonprofits, and community leaders with a story to tell and a message to share. If you are interested in creating professional video content and amplifying your voice, we are here to help and encourage you to apply!