Press

July 28, 2021

For Immediate Release

Contact

Alex Daigle

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States Newsroom Launches New Jersey Monitor

Seasoned Reporter Terrence T. McDonald to Lead New Outlet

TRENTON, NJ – Today, States Newsroom, the nation’s leading network of state-based nonprofit news outlets, announced the most recent launch in its expanding web: the New Jersey Monitor. This newest outlet is the organization’s twenty-third and will be led by veteran New Jersey journalist Terrence T. McDonald. 

The New Jersey Monitor will provide top-quality journalism focused on state government and politics, housing, civil and social justice, schools and any other issue that affects New Jerseyans.

“I’m beyond thrilled to be leading a team of amazing journalists committed to providing news reporting that the people of New Jersey need and deserve,” said Terrence T.  McDonald, Editor of the New Jersey Monitor.

McDonald brings to the New Jersey Monitor more than 15 years of reporting experience across newspapers in the Garden State. He has won 23 New Jersey Press Association awards and two Tim O’Brien Awards for Investigative Journalism using the Open Public Records Act from the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. 

Additional seasoned journalists join the new outlet’s staff, including:

  • Nikita Biryukov, who previously covered state government and politics for three years at the New Jersey Globe. Prior to that, Biryukov worked as a freelancer for The Home News Tribune and The Press of Atlantic City.
  • Dana DiFilippo, who comes to the New Jersey Monitor after five years of reporting for WHYY, Philadelphia’s NPR station. DiFilippo previously spent 15 years at the Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com.
  • Sophie Nieto-Muñoz, who covered the Statehouse and breaking news for NJ.com. Nieto-Muñoz has won several awards for investigative reporting from the New Jersey Press Association. 

By the end of 2021, States Newsroom plans to add news outlets in two additional states to its growing list of organizations.

“States Newsroom is continuing to expand to meet the demand for high-quality, non-partisan reporting at a local level,” said Chris Fitzsimon, Director and Publisher of States Newsroom. “We’re looking forward to the first-rate reporting that the New Jersey Monitor will contribute to our nationwide network.”

Previously, Fitzsimon founded and led NC Policy Watch, North Carolina’s leading news and commentary outlet, before launching what was to become States Newsroom in 2017.

States Newsroom is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is funded exclusively by the generous contributions of readers and philanthropists. States Newsroom is committed to supporting fact-based, non-partisan news to the public at no cost and ad-free.

Other States Newsroom affiliates and partners are:

Arizona Mirror – https://www.azmirror.com/ 
Colorado Newsline – https://coloradonewsline.com/ 
Florida Phoenix – https://www.floridaphoenix.com/ 
Georgia Recorder – https://georgiarecorder.com/
Iowa Capital Dispatch – https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/
Idaho Capital Sun –   https://idahocapitalsun.com/
Kansas Reflector  – https://kansasreflector.com/ 
Louisiana Illuminator – https://lailluminator.com/
Maine Beacon – http://mainebeacon.com/ 
Maryland Matters – https://www.marylandmatters.org/  
Michigan Advance – https://www.michiganadvance.com/
Minnesota Reformer – https://minnesotareformer.com/ 
Missouri Independent – https://missouriindependent.com/ 
Daily Montanan – https://dailymontanan.com/ 
Nevada Current – https://www.nevadacurrent.com/ 
New Hampshire Bulletin – https://newhampshirebulletin.com/
NC Policy Watch – http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/ 
Ohio Capital Journal – https://www.ohiocapitaljournal.com/  
Pennsylvania Capital-Star – https://www.penncapital-star.com/ 
Tennessee Lookout – https://www.tennesseelookout.com/ 
Virginia Mercury – https://www.virginiamercury.com/ 
Wisconsin Examiner – https://wisconsinexaminer.com/  

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