Asbury Park Residents to Gather for News Voices: New Jersey Forum with Local Journalists on March 23

ASBURY PARK — News Voices: New Jersey is bringing together local residents, journalists, media makers, activists and others in Asbury Park for a community discussion about the media on March 23 at 6 p.m. The event, “Asbury Park: The Whole Story,” will allow journalists to hear firsthand from residents about what life’s really like in the historic and diverse city.

The forum is the third News Voices has presented. The first, held in New Brunswick on Nov. 11, 2015, engaged more than 120 attendees in a brainstorming session about underreported local issues and the role journalism plays in our communities. The second, held in Atlantic City on Dec. 8, 2015, featured a rich discussion about the ways in which local journalism can help revitalize the city.

Members of the media are invited and encouraged to both participate in and report on the Asbury Park gathering.

These discussion forums are one way News Voices: New Jersey is helping newsrooms across the state deepen local engagement, find new sources and broaden their audiences. These events also help community members call on reporters to cover the issues they care about most.
 
Event details:
What: Asbury Park: The Whole Story. A public forum on how journalism can help unite communities
When: Wed., March 23, from 6–8:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30)
Where: Asbury Park High School, 1003 Sunset Ave., Asbury Park
Press Contacts: Timothy Karr at tkarr@freepress.net; Michele Setteducato at michele.setteducato@gmail.com

“An important question on the minds of many people is whether Asbury Park’s recent revival threatens to leave some behind or can actually benefit the entire community,” said Mike Rispoli, the press freedom campaign director for Free Press and director of the New Jersey project. “This is where newsrooms can come in and partner with residents — to listen to a variety of perspectives, sort through complicated information, and ask tough questions as powerful individuals make important decisions about the city.”

The Asbury Park forum is part of a series of News Voices: New Jersey events that will be held through the remainder of this year.

News Voices: New Jersey is a statewide initiative deepening engagement between New Jersey communities and local newsrooms to make local journalism more responsive and relevant to residents. It is a project of Free Press, the nonprofit organization that works nationwide to defend press and Internet freedom.