Strengthening NJ’s critical information infrastructure with journalist disaster preparedness kits
The Center for Cooperative Media is distributing emergency preparedness kits and organizational resilience training to 30 local newsrooms in New Jersey. The program is part of a broader effort to make sure local journalists are equipped to provide reliable information in the event of natural disasters and disruptions to statewide communication infrastructure.
The goal is to provide a collection of basic, essential equipment and training to help local newsrooms continue serving their communities when aspects of New Jersey’s local information ecosystem falter or fail, or when journalists find themselves otherwise endangered.
The NJ Civic Information Consortium is providing the funding for the kits, and each one contains various tools and equipment selected for specific emergency reporting scenarios.
Here’s a list of items in the kit:
- RunningSnail Emergency Radio
- First Aid Kit (299 pieces)
- Cyalume Yellow Emergency Glow Sticks (10)
- 3M Respirator (10-pack)
- UST Survival Blanket/Tarp 2.0
- ACEP First Aid Manual 5th Edition
- Press Safety Vest
- Waterproof Notebook Kit
- GSI Outdoors Collapsible Water Cube
- 14-in-1 Multitool
- HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag (5L)
- Shoreline Marine Safety Whistle
- ThruNite LED Flashlight
- EBL AA and AAA Rechargeable Batteries and Charger
- 3M Reusable Earplugs (3-pack)
You can view the full list of items for the kit here.
Understanding and anticipating the need
Recent disasters such as Hurricanes Ida, Helene, and Milton — and the COVID-19 pandemic — have exposed critical vulnerabilities in our information infrastructure. When power fails, internet access disappears, or cell networks become overwhelmed, communities still need access to reliable information about developing situations, available resources, and emergency response efforts.
Local journalists play an essential role during these crises, but many lack basic emergency equipment — especially those working for smaller outlets or serving historically underserved communities. These kits provide crucial tools that enable reporters to safely document emergency situations and maintain information flow to their communities. Additionally, journalists face similar risks when covering civil unrest.
The respiratory protection included in each kit allows journalists to safely cover situations involving poor air quality, from fires to building collapses. Weather-resistant storage helps protect essential electronics and documentation, while emergency lighting ensures continued operation during power outages. Every component was selected based on real-world emergency reporting scenarios and expert recommendations.
Supporting long-term resilience
Distribution of these kits marks the beginning of a longer-term emergency preparedness initiative. The Center will provide in-person equipment orientation sessions and basic emergency preparedness workshops to all kit recipients. Future check-ins will help identify additional training needs and collect feedback for improvements.
We’re also building a community of practice around emergency reporting in New Jersey, connecting kit recipients with experienced crisis journalists and emergency response professionals. These knowledge-sharing connections will help develop best practices and strengthen our collective capacity to serve communities during emergencies.
The future of our information infrastructure depends on preparing for increasingly common disruptions. By equipping local journalists with essential tools and support networks in advance, we’re proactively investing in New Jersey’s long-term community resilience.
Request a kit
New Jersey journalists interested in receiving an emergency reporting kit can fill out our request form here. Priority will be given to small and independent news organizations serving NJ communities with limited emergency resources and those covering traditionally underserved areas.
The Center will select the 30 recipients — those selected are highly encouraged to attend a virtual workshop on Feb. 19 or send a representative to attend. We will review what is in the safety kit and how to use it.
Our instructors for this workshop are:
- Keith Adams and Linda Hardy are representatives of NJVOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), a coalition of organizations that work together to support disaster preparation, response, and recovery efforts across New Jersey.
- Yemile Bucay is a professor at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where she specializes in crisis reporting and newsroom emergency preparedness.
⚠️ Limit one kit per organization. Please apply for a kit by the end of the day on Jan. 31, 2025.
Questions?
For questions about the program or to learn more about our emergency preparedness initiatives, contact Stefanie Murray via email at murrayst@montclair.edu.
Joe Amditis is the assistant director of operations at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Contact him at amditisj@montclair.edu or on Twitter at @jsamditis.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism, and in doing so serve New Jersey residents. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Local News Lab (a partnership of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, and Community Foundation of New Jersey), and the Abrams Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
Update (1/31/25): The workshop was originally an in-person event but we have since changed it to a virtual event.
