New Jersey Public Radio

Overview

The seeds which led to the formation of New Jersey Public Radio were planted in 2008, when NJN officials asked the New Jersey Legislature for permission to explore the possibility of spinning-off into a non-profit entity, independent from state funding. However, on June 6, 2011, New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who vowed to end state-funded public broadcasting upon taking office in 2010, announced the sale of the radio network. The northern part of the network was sold to New York Public Radio, which used the stations to start a new New Jersey-focused public radio network. A formal agreement was signed on June 29. NYPR assumed control of the stations under a management agreement on July 1; the Federal Communications Commission approved the sale on August 29, 2011.

Programming

Originally, New Jersey Public Radio's programming was largely identical to the programming that had been offered by NJN; consisting primarily of national programming from NPR, Public Radio Exchange, and American Public Media, as well as a simulcast of WBGO's jazz programming in the overnight hours.

On January 12, 2012; NJPR rolled out a new schedule. Among the highlights were a local host for Morning Edition and increased New Jersey-centric news and information content in partnership with the New Jersey News Service, headquartered at Montclair State University.

Stations

Due to the crowded state of the noncommercial end of the FM dial in the northeastern United States, the four New Jersey Public Radio stations all operate at relatively low power for full NPR members on the FM band. None has an ERP greater than 4,000 watts.

All four NJPR stations were knocked off the air on October 29, 2012, after Hurricane Sandy. While WNJY, WNJP and WNJT returned to the air by November 3, once power and studio to transmitter link connections could be restored, it took until December 14 to get WNJO back on the air as its transmitter is located near Seaside Park on the Barnegat Peninsula, which was inaccessible from mainland New Jersey for some time after the storm. This transmitter site experienced long term utility outages for both power and audio connectivity. New York Public Radio engineering director Jim Stagnitto initially feared that the WNJO transmitter was swept into Barnegat Bay, but found it intact when his team was able to access the site.

References

References

1. Flanagan, Jenna. (June 30, 2011). "New York Public Radio Acquires Four NJN Radio Stations". [[WNYC]].
2. "New Jersey Public Radio".
3. Behrens, Steve. [http://www.current.org/funding/funding0808njn.shtml With its state aid shrinking, NJN asks for independence] {{Webarchive. link. (June 17, 2011 . [[Current (magazine)). Current]], May 12, 2008.
4. [http://www.nbc40.net/news/17927/ NJN Press release (via WMGM-TV): "GOV. CHRISTIE SELECTS WNET FOR NJN TAKEOVER", June 6, 2011.] {{webarchive. link. (June 10, 2011)
5. [http://www.njpublicradio.org/press/njprlaunch New Jersey Public Radio Announces New Programming Schedule To Launch Thursday, January 12] {{Webarchive. link. (October 23, 2012 . [[WNYC). New York Public Radio]], January 4, 2012.
6. (July 14, 2008). "Local Yields to Satellite at WCTC, WMTR". North East RadioWatch.
7. (August 26, 1998). "Format Changes & Updates". The M Street Journal.
8. (September 8, 2008). ""Now" Time at Philly's WJJZ". North East RadioWatch.
9. (2010). "Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 2010".
10. (November 2, 2012). "Stagnitto: A View From New York". [[Radio World]].
11. Fybush, Scott. (October 29 – November 2, 2012). "NERW 10/29/2012: Sandy Takes Aim at NERW-land (with Friday update)". Northeast Radio Watch.
12. Lapin, Andrew. [http://www.current.org/2012/12/wnjo-transmitter-back-on-air-nearly-six-weeks-after-sandy WNJO transmitter back on-air nearly six weeks after Sandy]. Current, December 11, 2012.