Morristown forum will bring together community members, journalists to discuss pressing issues in Morristown, June 1

Residents and journalists discuss local news in Asbury Park. A similar forum is coming to Morristown on June 1, 2016. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber
Residents and journalists discuss local news in Asbury Park. A similar forum is coming to Morristown on June 1, 2016. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber
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Residents and journalists discuss local news in Asbury Park. A similar forum is coming to Morristown on June 1, 2016. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber
Residents and journalists discuss local news in Asbury Park. A similar forum is coming to Morristown on June 1, 2016. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber

By Mike Rispoli

Business owners, students, faith leaders, activists and other residents will join journalists on June 1, 2016,  at the Morristown Neighborhood House for a free public forum that will explore ways in which community members and local reporters can work together to strengthen Morristown.

All are invited to take part in this community-building event, which is presented by Free Press’ News Voices: New Jersey project.

Find more event details here and RSVP today.

News Voices: New Jersey is helping to build deep relationships between newsrooms and communities across the state in ways that benefit both groups.

Through this work, residents take a more active role in local journalism and better support newsrooms.

And newsrooms produce better journalism when they listen to the concerns of everyday people and incorporate these perspectives in their reporting.

As more meaningful stories get told and people feel more connected and invested in their local media, the stronger our communities become.

The event on June 1 comes at a critical juncture for Morristown. The town is rich in history, spirit and diversity, yet there are significant challenges and changes happening in the community.

I’ve heard similar concerns time and again from residents that ongoing and planned development will significantly change the makeup of the town.

Those who are already on the margins are worried that they will be left behind or pushed out of the community. Many residents have told me that the things that make Morristown special and unique will be lost if the town tries to become trendier, pricier and, in the words of a few individuals, “Hoboken West.”

The decisions being made about the Morristown’s future have widespread impacts on the lives of every single resident. These changes affect, among other things, housing, jobs, the cost of living and education.

Every member of the Morristown community has a stake in its future, and journalists can help ensure that all voices are heard and that the public has the information it needs to make educated decisions.

Local media can advocate for the public interest by uncovering truth, pressing for transparency and holding the powerful accountable.

The June 1 event is also an opportunity to elevate the voices of all concerned Morristown residents.

Civic engagement is part of Morristown’s culture, and people here are participating in an important discussion about how the community is changing.

But to grapple with what’s at stake, the community needs to hear from those who are struggling. By reaching out to those sources, reporters can bring their voices into the conversation.

A forum likes this one in Atlantic City is scheduled for Morristown, to discuss local journalism. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber
A forum likes this one in Atlantic City is scheduled for Morristown, to discuss local journalism. Photo by Vanessa Maria Graber

At the June 1 forum, community members and local media will discuss critical issues in small groups, and together they’ll brainstorm story ideas and collaborate on ways to give every resident a voice in Morristown’s future.

We’ve seen firsthand how these types of community-engagement events set the stage for lasting change.

Our first forum, held in New Brunswick last November, engaged more than 120 attendees in a brainstorming session about under-reported local issues.

The second, held in Atlantic City last December, featured a rich discussion about the ways in which local journalism can help revitalize the city. And the News Voices gathering held in Asbury Park in March brought together residents from opposite sides of the community to explore ways in which journalism can help unite the city.

In each of these communities, the groundwork has been laid for future projects and collaborations between local reporters and residents.

We’re hoping that the event on June 1 will help identify how Morristown can grow as a unified community where everyone benefits and all residents are part of the conversation.

This is your chance to make your voice heard. Join us at the Neighborhood House on June 1 at 6 p.m. All are encouraged to participate.

Click here for more information about the event and to RSVP.

Mike Rispoli is the director of Free Press’ News Voices: New Jersey project. In a past life he was a journalist for Gannett newspapers and The Star-Ledger. He’s a New Jersey native and teaches journalism at Rutgers University. Find out more about News Voices: New Jersey by going to newsvoices.org.

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