nj.com

What is NJ.com

NJ.com is a digital news website focussed on local and regional news for the state of New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania. (Wikipedia) It’s part of a larger media company (NJ Advance Media) that provides content, sales and marketing services for newspapers and digital outlets in New Jersey. (Wikipedia)

The site advertises itself as “the number one provider of local news in New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley.” (Wikipedia) It handles a large volume of traffic: in one reported period it had about 12.1 million unique monthly visitors and roughly 70 million page-views/month. (Wikipedia)

It’s owned by Advance Publications (which also owns other local publications). (Wikipedia)

History & evolution

Here are some of the key historical points:

  • The content for NJ.com is provided by NJ Advance Media, which was launched in June 2014 to service NJ.com and New Jersey newspapers owned by Advance Publications. (Wikipedia)

  • Advance Publications has long had a presence in New Jersey’s newspaper and media scene; NJ.com represents a move toward digital news for local audiences. (Wikipedia)

  • In earlier years (e.g., 2012) it was reported that NJ.com was the largest provider of digital news in New Jersey. (Wikipedia)

  • As print media has declined, operations like NJ.com have played a more prominent role in local news delivery.

What it covers

NJ.com covers a broad range of topics relevant to New Jersey (and adjoining region) including:

  • Local news: crime, city and county government, schools, taxes, community issues.

  • Regional events and issues in New Jersey & Lehigh Valley region.

  • Sports coverage: high school sports, local college/pro teams, commentary (NJ Advance Media staff recognised in sports journalism). (Wikipedia)

  • Features, investigative journalism, opinion pieces.

Because it is digital-first, the site can publish faster than traditional print, and it aggregates/connects to related newspapers in the Advance network.

Reputation, bias and reliability

Here are some findings on how NJ.com is viewed:

  • According to the media-bias rating site AllSides, NJ.com holds a “Lean Left” bias rating (shows a moderate alignment with liberal/progressive policy agendas). (AllSides)

  • According to another rating organisation, Ad Fontes Media, NJ.com is categorised in the “Middle” category of bias and “Reliable” for analysis/fact-reporting. (Ad Fontes Media)

  • On Reddit user discussion (in r/newjersey) there are comments voicing frustration: for example one commenter said:

    “nj.com reads and feels like a slightly better version of the nightly news… lots of news on arrests, fires, etc. The subcategories don’t even have coverage.” (Reddit)
    That suggests some readers feel the coverage is somewhat sensational or uneven across topics.

So: generally seen as legitimate, credible for local news, but like many media outlets, users and rating services point out potential bias or limitations.

Strengths & criticisms

Strengths:

  • Very broad reach and digital presence in New Jersey — large volume of traffic.

  • Covers local issues that national media don’t often cover — gives attention to New Jersey-specific politics, school districts, local governments.

  • Part of a larger infrastructure (NJ Advance Media, Advance Publications) so it has resource backing.

Criticisms / limitations:

  • Because it serves a broad audience and many local topics, some readers feel it skews toward “quick news” (crime, accidents) rather than deep reporting in some areas. (See Reddit comment)

  • As with many local news outlets, staffing and resource pressures may impact depth of coverage.

  • Bias ratings show it may lean somewhat politically (though one rating still calls it “middle”). Readers should still apply critical thinking.

Why this matters

For someone interested in New Jersey news, NJ.com is a significant source. If you’re following local politics, school board decisions, state policy, or community news in New Jersey, NJ.com will likely be one of the primary outlets. Because it’s digital-first, it shows how local news has moved from print to online.

Also, for media-studies purposes, NJ.com illustrates the shift from traditional newspapers to integrated digital operations (with content from newspapers, digital sites, video, etc). The ownership structure (Advance Publications) and the digital audience metrics reflect broader industry trends.

Key takeaways

  • NJ.com is the major digital news site for New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley region.

  • Owned by Advance Publications via NJ Advance Media; large traffic and reach.

  • Covers local/regional news — government, schools, sports, community issues.

  • Has a bias rating of “Lean Left” (per AllSides) but “Middle” with high reliability (per Ad Fontes).

  • Strength: breadth of coverage and digital access. Limitation: some reader complaints about depth or sensationalism.

  • Reflects broader trend of local news migrating online as print declines.

FAQ

Q: Who owns NJ.com?
A: It’s owned by Advance Publications, through its local-news unit NJ Advance Media. (Wikipedia)

Q: Is the content behind a paywall?
A: According to AllSides, NJ.com content is free to access (no paywall) in their database. (AllSides) However, local practices may vary (you might encounter subscriber-only features depending on content).

Q: How reliable is the information on NJ.com?
A: Ad Fontes rates it “Reliable” for fact/analysis reporting. (Ad Fontes Media) That said, as with any news source, readers should cross-check particularly important claims.

Q: Does NJ.com only cover New Jersey?
A: Primarily yes — it focuses on New Jersey and adjacent Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania. (Wikipedia)

Q: How large is its audience?
A: One reported figure says ~12.1 million unique monthly visitors and ~70 million page-views per month (reporting period 2017-2018). (Wikipedia)

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