The journey to creating the Newark News & Story Collaborative began in Fall 2020, when Brit Harley, a Newark native and former WBGO 88.3fm community engagement reporter, joined forces with a dedicated collective of residents from Newark and Essex County. Their shared vision was clear: to establish a community media training program that could uplift and empower local voices.
With the backing of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the Victoria Foundation, this vision materialized into what is now known as the Newark News & Story Collaborative. Co-founded alongside Free Press - News Voices and the Center for Cooperative Media, the initiative aimed to forge a strong alliance between local reporters and media creators to address Newark's pressing information needs, particularly those highlighted by the pandemic's challenges.
Our approach was methodical and community-centric. In partnership with Outlier Media and Groundsource, we delved into Newark's immediate information necessities, uncovering their aspirations and concerns through a detailed analysis.
Utilizing a text-based survey and leveraging insights from the community resource hub, 211, we conducted a comprehensive information needs assessment. The findings were stark, revealing significant gaps in critical areas such as COVID-19, food security, housing, and utilities.
Inspired by these findings and determined to bridge these information divides, we have since had over 40 residents graduate from our community media program. Our collaborative efforts have enriched the local media landscape, contributing numerous stories in partnership with WBGO and securing ongoing support from foundational backers like the NJ Civic Information Consortium.
This profound engagement and success have propelled us to a new venture — launching our own local storytelling and media entity, Five Wards Media. Through this platform, we continue to weave the rich narratives of Newark's communities and keep the spotlight on issues and stories that matter.
Meet the team
Brit Harley, Co-Founder & Director
De’jah Johnson, Project Assitant & Program Support