Project Updates (J-Lab)
NJSpotlight.com, a public affairs news site for New Jersey, proposed assembling a digital library for the collection, analysis and presentation of New Jersey public-interest data and research reports on such topics as schools and state and local budgets. The site planned to collaborate with Philly. com and community websites in New Jersey.
As of this report, the digital library is under construction. The first piece, a voters’ guide, launched in September 2011. The project has expanded from its original plan, both in scope and partnerships, reports John Mooney, the site’s founding editor.
The main addition was the “2011 Voters’ Project,” which will be part of the new library and accompanied the state’s legislative election. Largely funded through non-profit grants, the guide queried the more than 200 major party candidates for Senate and Assembly on a range of issues facing the state, including education, energy and health care, and presented their answers in easy-to-use format developed by E-The People.
Along with the guide, NJ Spotlight provided corresponding research, journalism and data on the issues, collected as part of the Enterprise Reporting Award. Included were campaign contributions and other financial disclosure information for the candidates. That collection of documents and other resources can also be accessed separately through the new Library page itself, and remain in the Library after the election.
To help distribute and promote the features, NJ Spotlight has a new agreement pending with WNYC Radio’s “It’s a Free Country,” as well as some other potential partnerships both within WNYC and with other media organizations.
