Why your email = stronger local journalism in New Jersey

Stronger communities start with informed readers. In the age of fickle, big technology company-controlled social media algorithms and AI, providing your email helps The Jersey Vindicator stay connected with you.

Dear Reader,

We want to share an important change with you. Soon, you’ll be asked to sign up with your email address to read many of the articles on The Jersey Vindicator.

Why? Because our mission is simple: to deliver fearless, independent reporting that serves New Jersey. And the best way for us to keep that promise is by building a direct connection with you.

When you share your email with us, you’re not just signing up for a newsletter — you’re making sure we can put our most important stories right in your inbox. You’ll get our weekly roundup, updates on the impact of our reporting, information from trusted local news partners and sponsors, and, occasionally, invitations to support our work. And let us be clear: our stories will remain free for everyone to read.

We know this step may feel like an inconvenience to some. But in a fractured media world where social platforms and algorithms increasingly decide what you see, where AI scrapes content without permission, and where our own reporting has been lifted without credit by other local news outlets, we can’t afford to leave our connection with you to chance. Having your email helps ensure our journalism reaches the people it’s meant to serve: New Jerseyans like you.

From the beginning, The Jersey Vindicator has relied on a mix of support — grants, local sponsorships and underwriting, community events, and reader donations. Having diverse funding sources helps us stay independent and gives us the stability to plan for the future. But it’s your generosity, your willingness to share our stories, and your belief in our mission that make the biggest difference. Readers like you are at the heart of our model, ensuring our journalism remains free to read, fearless in spirit, and strong enough to hold power to account for years to come.

Since we launched in 2023 with seed funding from the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, we’ve grown into a small but determined newsroom. With your support, we’ve hired talented veteran reporters and a world-class photojournalist, investigated powerful institutions, and held local governments accountable. Every donation, every shared story, every suggestion, and every kind word has made this possible. For that, we are deeply grateful.

The Jersey Vindicator is original journalism, created by journalists who live here, raise families here, and believe in New Jersey’s future. We’re not backed by hedge funds or corporate owners. We’re here for one reason only: to keep you informed. We believe information is power. Sharing it empowers communities to shape a better future.

We promise never to sell or misuse your email address. We respect your time and your trust, and we’ll keep fighting to bring you the kind of journalism that matters.

Please keep reaching out with story ideas, creative event suggestions, fundraising opportunities, and ways we can gather as a community to talk about the news and shape the future of The Jersey Vindicator together. If your community group would like to host a conversation, invite us. We’d love to join you and hear what matters most to you. And please share our newsletter and the signup link below with your New Jersey colleagues and friends.

Thank you for reading, for believing in us, and for helping us work to build something we hope will be strong enough to last. We couldn’t do it without you.

With gratitude,

Krystal Knapp
& The Jersey Vindicator team

You can sign up for our newsletter with your email here.

Reach out with feedback, a story idea, or an invitation to a community meetup by using our contact form. We have time available for community meetings in the first two weeks of November, as well as in January, March, and April.