Local 1032 Fighting to Keep NJ Public Broadcasting in Public's Hands

Determined to save public broadcasting in New Jersey, CWA Local 1032 members had reason to celebrate, cautiously, this week as the state Legislature put off a decision about privatizing NJN until at least mid-October.

That's also good news for New Jersey residents, who count on the publicly owned and run network for local coverage they don't get on other channels: Of 12 commercial stations licensed in New Jersey, 11 focus on New York City and Philadelphia.

Many of the 100 CWA members working at NJN have met repeatedly with legislators, expressing fear that a private owner would sell off NJN's assets or merge them with assets in the neighboring states. The network's TV, radio and broadband licenses are valued at more than $200 million.

"When people think of New Jersey now, they think of the Jersey Shore, Rutgers and NJN," Local 1032 President Patrick Kavanagh said. "That will no longer be the case if New Jersey loses control of these major television and radio assets."

Lawmakers, pushed by Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey Network's interim director, originally set a July 1 deadline to turn the system over to a non-profit corporation. Instead, Senate and Assembly committees voted to create a commission to study the proposals and report back by Oct. 15.

Local 1032 has set up a information-packed website, where you can sign an online petition and share a video the NJN workers produced. Find it at www.saveNJN.com.