The past, present, and future of New Jersey public media were subject of a special conference at Rutgers-Camden, as experts laid out the history and recent debate over the state's role in public broadcasting and media executives joined with their plans for replacing it.
The conference brought together many of the top players in the discussion that started with the Christie administration's decision last year to stop funding the New Jersey Network and sell off its licenses and leases.
This program was three hours long and consisted of four separate panels.
Panel 1: Public Media Innovations Nationally
Tom Glaisyer, Knight Media policy fellow, New America Foundation
Dennis Haar Sager, executive director and president, Public Television Major Market Group
Erik Langner, director, Acquisitions and Legal Affairs, Public Radio Capital
Joseph S. Miller, Esq., deputy director and senior policy counsel, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Panel 2: New Jersey Needs in Public Media
Matthew Hale, associate professor, Seton Hall University
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute
Oliver Quinn, senior counselor, Taft and Partners, past president, NJ Public Policy Research Institute
Donna Sandorse, managing member, The DCL Group, founding member, Voice for NJ
Panel 3: Station Licensees and Operators
Kyra McGrath, EVP and COO, WHYY Inc., Philadelphia
Neal Shapiro, president and CEO, WNET, New York
Laura Walker, president and CEO, New York Public Radio