Storm Poses First Major Test for NJTV News Coverage

Hurricane Sandy was the first major test for NJTV, which WNET, the New York public broadcaster, has operated since July 2011. The change occurred after Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ), despite criticism, dismantled the New Jersey Network, the state’s public broadcasting operation.

The network’s public radio stations were sold to WNYC of New York and WHYY of Pennsylvania, and the contract for the television operation went to WNET. Critics said they feared the outsiders would not devote resources to cover New Jersey. Many of those critics did not respond or declined to comment on NJTV’s storm coverage. For its newscasts, NJTV turned to its three reporters and a freelancer. They used rented $30,000 backpacks with live uplink capabilities and cellphones to file reports. The backpacks had been rented for NJTV’s election coverage. “We don’t have the money to buy them,” said John Servidio, general manager of NJTV. NJTV also relied on the New Jersey News Commons, a nascent coalition for online news — commercial, nonprofit and volunteer — based at Montclair State University, in Montclair. The school was an unsuccessful bidder for the NJN television operation, but since then has created a campus hub for statewide news coverage. NJTV and WNYC are basing operations there.