On Sunday, September 22, the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists (NJSPJ) hosted a webinar with the Executive Director and Editor of HonestReporting.com, Gil Hoffman. Initially suggested by Steve Lubetkin, NJSPJ board secretary, then championed by Kenneth Burns, board president, it is unclear how much research and effort was made to ensure the guest was appropriate for the topic.

In January, Newark became the first city in New Jersey to give 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in local school board elections. It was a major victory for student advocates, who are now building on the momentum to win the franchise in other cities.

In our final installment, three women journalists discuss the importance of owning one’s narrative and identity within a media landscape grappling with the construct of modern journalism — ideas that shape many of the concepts confronting white and non-White journalists including inclusivity, bias and objectivity.

In part one of this series, we featured stories of success, struggle and purpose from three remarkable women journalists who built their careers in primarily white-male-dominated newsrooms. For part two, we sat down with three more remarkable women journalists in the state working to establish a more equitable and inclusive media landscape that centers the narratives of communities being pushed to exist on the periphery of mainstream media.

In light of the importance of journalism for a cohesive civil society, healthy democracy, well-informed public and transparent government, some of New Jersey's most remarkable women journalists reporting on cities and communities around the state will share their stories of success, struggle, purpose and wisdom: What drives their work despite the challenges, the importance of white and non-white women in journalism, and tips and insights for others looking for support and inspiration in the field.

On November 9, the growing global movement for a "Free Palestine" took to the streets of Newark for the Shut It Down for Palestine rally and march; the third time in under a month.

In his Black-and-White medium, Brian Branch Price, Public Square Amplified photojournalist, and editor, narrates the Palestinian community's profound rage, indomitable spirit, and unwavering determination to end the war on Gaza, and he and they find a narrow space that allows him both distance and intimacy.

University Hospital is an essential resource for New Jersey residents. It's the only state-owned public hospital and one of only three Level One trauma centers. It's home to a comprehensive stroke center and a regional perinatal center and serves as a primary care facility for many Newark residents. During the pandemic, it was the Northern Regional COVID center; yet the hospital is outdated and underfunded.

As July 12 marks the 55th anniversary of the Newark Rebellion in 1967, Newark's Central Ward faces another transformation. The city's central but aging care and teaching facility, University Hospital, has become the focus of a long-overdue redevelopment project to renovate and expand the hospital and its health services. The project has the potential to build on the promises of the historic Newark Accords, also known as the Newark Agreements of 1968—the only contract of its kind in the United States codifying a hospital's commitment to promoting the public health of a community. But it is also a cause of concern for many Newark residents and activists.