Full crowd at SOMAS presentation on investigative journalism

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — It was standing room only at The Woodland on Thursday, Oct. 10, as WNYC’s Nancy Solomon and ProPublica’s Charles Ornstein addressed the question, “Can Investigative Journalism Save New Jersey?”

“Communities all across the country are struggling with cutbacks to their local newspapers,” Solomon said. “We have a great need for investigative journalism, but it’s expensive and there are now fewer watchdogs than ever before. There are some bright spots on the landscape, and it appears reform may be coming to New Jersey for the first time in a long time.”

One of those bright spots is due to ProPublica’s funding of Solomon’s year-long investigative journalism project looking into “The Real Bosses of New Jersey.” The support from ProPublica has allowed Solomon the time and resources to investigate George Norcross, who is widely regarded as the most powerful unelected official in New Jersey.

While Solomon came to the conclusion that investigative journalism alone does not have the power to save New Jersey, she qualified her answer by saying that investigative journalism does have the power to influence voters, who in turn do have the ability to save New Jersey.

The evening honored Adult School Trustee Eva Samo for her more than 50 years of dedication to the South Orange-Maplewood Adult School and was just one of the many enriching programs the Adult School has been bringing to the SOMA community since its inception in 1933.

  SOMA Adult School, The Woodland