NJN signs off today, leaving 130 people out of work

Tears welled in longtime journalist Michael Aron’s eyes as he and colleague Jim Hooker said their goodbye on New Jersey Network’s final evening newscast from Trenton.

The broadcast cut to a small room of empty cubicles. The lights turned off, and a small, blue NJN sign glowed on the back wall. The screen faded to black. "New Jersey Network. April 5, 1971 - June 30, 2011." "Oh baby," Hooker said with a sigh, after the cameras turned off. "Tough one." The beleaguered station signed off today from its headquarters on Stockton Street. As of July 1, 130 people are out of work. They packed up their desks and grabbed as many hugs as they could before leaving out the back door. Now, the station becomes NJTV and New York-based WNET takes control after a prolonged push by Gov. Chris Christie to get the state out of the public broadcasting business. Christie also sold off NJN’s nine radio licenses.