WASHINGTON — February 25, 2013 — The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) today presented NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network, with a 2013 EDGE Award for NJ Today with Mike Schneider, NJTV’s weeknight news program, which employs unique technology and partnerships to produce a half-hour, high definition broadcast on-air and online. The EDGE Awards, presented annually to public television stations, highlight excellence in the use of technology, groundbreaking partnerships and other pioneering work in public television.
NJ Today is the only news program that reaches all 21 New Jersey counties on-air, and extends its reach on THIRTEEN, the flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area. Online, NJ Today serves as an ever-updating source for Garden State news to everyone via its companion website and social media outposts. Hosted by managing editor veteran journalist Mike Schneider, NJ Today not only reports on the breaking news in New Jersey, but provides viewers with in-depth interviews and analysis on important issues and what is happening in local business, arts and culture.
NJ Today marshals the state’s intellectual firepower through a growing number of state colleges and universities that act as content bureaus where students and faculty contribute to the news cycle. These partnerships with educational institutions allow NJ Today to expand its coverage in a cost-effective and socially-beneficial manner. NJ Today guest interviews are coordinated and transmitted via the internet through robotic cameras stationed at the schools to the NJ Today studio in Montclair. There, students working in tandem with our professional staff, are able to learn news production in real time with on-set internship opportunities. NJ Today also collaborates with New Jersey’s major newspapers and other print and online media, public radio and independent producers to extend the reach and coverage of state news, public affairs, arts and culture.
When Hurricane Sandy and Nor’easter Athena set a course for the area, NJTV and NJ Today acted as beacons of information for their local communities throughout the storms. A combination of dedicated human resources and new technology made it possible. The news and technical teams worked up to 18 hours a day from the onset of Sandy, often away from their own homes and families, to keep New Jersey informed on-air and online. NJTV provided Governor Christie’s press conferences live on-air and online, and NJ Today changed its format to air live and bring storm news across New Jersey in real-time. Correspondents traveled up and down the Garden State to spotlight fellow New Jerseyans’ brave efforts facing and fighting the weather, and coping with its aftermath. Even amid mass power-outages, NJ Today’s correspondents were able to transmit reports throughout the storm through remote backpack units.
“I am extremely pleased to present the 2013 EDGE Award to NJTV for NJ Today with Mike Schneider, for their innovative news-gathering practices and partnerships, which make it a model for serving the information needs of local citizens with an unrivaled breadth and depth,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of APTS. “John Servidio’s leadership illustrates the best of public television’s commitment to civic education, public safety and other essential services to America’s communities. NJTV’s heroic coverage of Superstorm Sandy was a particularly striking example of this mission, and we salute the extraordinary staff of NJTV for keeping millions of people safe from harm. This EDGE award is richly earned, and we congratulate our colleagues at NJTV for a job well done.”
“Local news is critical to the mission of New Jersey public television,” said NJTV’s general manager John Servidio. “Our production team has worked extremely hard to build a news program from the ground-up since we assumed operation of the network in July 2011. With a limited budget, we’ve needed to be frugal and savvy, and new technology has helped make us an efficient operation. To be honored for our work is rewarding and motivating as we continue to grow our coverage.”
The NJTV network and NJ Today reach the #1 and #4 ranked television markets in the U.S. – 7.5 million New York and New Jersey television households and 3 million Philadelphia television households. NJ Today with Mike Schneider airs weeknights at 6pm, 7pm and 11pm ET on NJTV. Newscasts are available for viewing online at NJTV’s website - www.njtvonline.org.
The EDGE Award was presented to NJTV during The APTS Public Media Summit on Monday, February 25.
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research and communications activities in order to achieve strong and financially sound noncommercial television and advanced digital services for the American people. APTS provides consistent leadership and information that helps our members better accomplish their own missions and goals. Through its affiliate APTS Action, APTS promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy, and grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
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