"And away we go. This is WNJT-TV, the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority, Channel 52,
Trenton."
With those words on April 5, 1971, New Jersey's first and only statewide public television station went
on the air. Since then, the network has grown to become one of the nation's top producers of local
programming in the PBS system. This award-winning station embodies public television's mission to
educate, inform and empower citizens by providing quality programming for all ages and serving as a
valuable community resource.
In 1961, WNET-TV moved from Newark to New York City, leaving New Jersey without a television
station of its own. In 1968, the state Legislature established the New Jersey Public Broadcasting
Authority and passed the New Jersey Public Broadcasting Authority Act. Voters approved a $7.5
million bond issue to construct four transmitters and a broadcast complex.
By 1971, the network, known as New Jersey Public Television (NJPTV) was on the air with newscasts
and instructional programming used by elementary, high school and college students. In 1972,
WNJS-TV, Channel 23, Camden, was added. A year later, WNJM-TV, Channel 50, Montclair and
WNJB-TV, Channel 58, New Brunswick, were in operation, giving the network its full complement of
four UHF stations serving the entire state with one signal.
The network opened a Newark news bureau in 1973 and in 1980,
a South Jersey bureau was established at Richard Stockton State College in Pomona.
The network officially changed its name to New Jersey Network (NJN) in 1981. In 1984, NJN
received its first Emmy Awards and in the next 12 years, NJN has been nominated more than 70 times.
NJN has earned more than 15 awards in the Philadelphia, New York and Mid-Atlantic regions.
In July 1993, the network left the former bowling alley in Ewing Township it had called home for more
than 20 years for new headquarters: a state-of-the-art broadcasting and production facility located at 25
South Stockton Street in Trenton.
Throughout the 1990s, NJN has remained one of the nation's top producers of local programming
among public television stations and has continued to produce documentaries focusing on topics
important to New Jerseyans. Currently, the network produces 8 programs: Another View; Due Process;
Images/Imagenes; New Jersey, Inc.; NJN News; On The Record; Reporters' Roundtable With Michael
Aron; and State of the Arts; and co-produces Caucus: New Jersey.
The network's oldest locally produced program, NJN News is recognized in the region and around the country as the leader in New Jersey broadcast
television coverage. NJN News covers the politics, education, New Jersey Statehouse, health and
medical affairs, environmental issues, youth violence, urban affairs, sports and business in the Garden
State. The acclaimed newscast is anchored
by NJN News Senior Anchor Kent Manahan. NJN News earned the 1996 Mid-Atlantic Region Emmy
Award for best newscast.
The network reached landmark agreements with The Television Food Network in 1995 and Atlantic
Microsystems, Inc. in 1996, which will add to the network's support over the next 10 years. NJN also
held two benefits in 1995 and 1996 which attracted 1,100 guests and earned the national PBS
Development Award.
In its first 25 years on the air, NJN has informed and engaged New Jersey citizens with compelling
portraits of the Garden State and ambitious community outreach efforts. By promoting positive change in
the community with quality programming and partnerships with community groups and leaders, NJN
continues to evolve as one of the country's leading public television stations.
The following is a list of the members of New Jersey Networks NJN News team. They are listed by seniority. Click on their name to find out about them.
