Some local representatives unhappy with our coverage consistently refer to us as a blog, which is their right. These references have been made in emails to us and in text messages to each of our staff individually.  It is also our right to respond.

In an email to Berkeley Heights BOE and Town Council, I took the time to explain who we are and what drives our work- reminding local officials that NJ21st is built as an independent, nonprofit newsroom—supported by community donations rather than political or commercial interests.

To provide some measure of objective analysis (because being a member of a nationally recognized news organization like LION isn’t enough), we asked ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot for their analysis against a franchise model that we will not name.

All three came to the same conclusion- NJ21st lines up closely with the core values of traditional journalism. Copilot compared our approach to ProPublica and The Marshall Project.

We also took the opportunity to clarify an important standard: NJ21st requires on-the-record responses from public officials and does not accept anonymous commentary.

Here is the email sent to the Council and BOE with the franchise name we used as a comparison redacted. I decided to redact the franchise name because the comparison is meant to be illustrative – not personal:

Good Afternoon!

I wanted to provide the BOE and Council with an objective primer on NJ21st so as to increase clarity on the kind of reporting our organization provides and what separates us from corporate/politically funded outlets. I think both types of reporting have benefits and costs. I asked three prominent AI models to compare NJ21st with a local franchise model (because why take my word for it?):

ChatGPT’s response: https://chatgpt.com/share/68bdb774-7210-8004-816d-afda0e4430ae

Conclusion:

“Bottom Line

NJ21st is more in line with the traditional ideals of independent watchdog journalism—small but deeply focused on transparency and accountability.

[franchise name redacted] provides broader coverage and fills local news gaps, but its heavy reliance on advertising and sponsored content makes it lean toward a community news + business hybrid rather than pure watchdog journalism.

If your definition of “real journalism” is holding power accountable and operating free from outside influence, NJ21st is closer to that standard.”

Gemini’s Response: https://g.co/gemini/share/610496917dc9

Conclusion:
Of the two, NJ21st is more in line with the principles of traditional, nonprofit journalism, while [franchise name redacted] operates on a commercially driven model that has raised some journalistic concerns.

Funding and Independence

NJ21st: This organization operates on a nonprofit, civic journalism model. Its funding comes from donations and it explicitly states that it does not accept money from government entities, political organizations, or local businesses. This structure is intended to insulate its reporting from commercial or political pressures, allowing it to focus on public-interest and accountability journalism.

[franchise name redacted]: This is a franchise-based business that relies heavily on local advertising and paid content. While many [franchise name redacted] sites produce quality journalism, their model, which allows businesses to pay to publish their own press releases and content, can create a blurred line between news and marketing. Critics have raised concerns that this “pay-to-publish” model can compromise journalistic independence, as there is an inherent conflict of interest when a news source’s revenue is directly tied to publishing content provided by paying clients.

Journalistic Focus and Mission

NJ21st: The mission is explicitly to increase transparency and accountability in local government. Its content is centered on “fact-based, document-backed reporting” with a clear focus on holding powerful entities accountable. This is the core function of watchdog journalism.

[franchise name redacted]: As a network of independently owned franchises, the quality and focus of content can vary from one site to another. While many sites aim to cover local news, their primary objective is to create a profitable, sustainable business model. The content often includes a mix of hard news, community announcements, sports, and business-submitted material, which may not always prioritize investigative or accountability journalism.

Summary

The distinction largely comes down to business models. NJ21st’s nonprofit structure, funded by donations, aligns it more closely with the public-service mission of traditional journalism, where the focus is on holding power accountable and serving the public interest without a profit motive. In contrast, [franchise name redacted]’s for-profit, advertising-based franchise model can present challenges to journalistic independence, particularly with its paid content offerings, which are at odds with the core principle of separating news from advertising.

Copilot’s Response: https://copilot.microsoft.com/shares/KEFo7oCRRUhFAD2RWqM5M

“If we’re defining “real journalism” as reporting that adheres to the core principles of the profession—verification, independence, accountability, transparency, and public service—then NJ21st aligns more closely with that standard.

Here’s why:

Core Journalistic Values

Verification: NJ21st centers its reporting on primary source documents—contracts, budgets, engineering reports, and OPRA disclosures. Every claim is traceable.

Independence: As a nonprofit civic journalism outlet, NJ21st is structurally insulated from commercial pressures, unlike [franchise name redacted]’s franchise model which often relies on sponsored content and local advertising.

Accountability: NJ21st publishes corrections, editorial methodology, and sourcing openly. It also challenges misinformation and misleading narratives, even from other media outlets.

Transparency: Reports often include side-by-side comparisons, annotated documents, and visual breakdowns to help residents understand complex issues.

Public Service: The mission is explicitly civic—empowering residents to understand and influence local governance.

[franchise name redacted]’s Role

[franchise name redacted] plays a valuable role in community information sharing, especially for local events, school updates, and small business visibility. But its editorial model often blends journalism with promotional content, and its depth of analysis varies widely by franchise. It’s closer to community publishing than investigative journalism.

Professional Standards

NJ21st’s work reflects the kind of rigor you’d expect from ProPublica or The Marshall Project—fact-checked, document-driven, and designed to hold power to account. [franchise name redacted], while useful, doesn’t consistently meet that threshold.

If you’re trying to explain this distinction to residents or stakeholders, I can help craft a visual explainer or editorial note that walks through these differences in tone and purpose. Just say the word.”

Hopefully this provides both local bodies with clarity on why we insist on on-the-record responses and do not allow for anonymous opinion pieces from Government officials.

We continue to value [franchise name redacted]’s role in our community and are happy to offer another resource for residents in obtaining fact based, accountable news reporting.

Have a great weekend!

https://nj21st.com/

Added 09/07/2025 @ around 5pm:

A few folks reached out and were bothered by the fact that I didn’t use Grok.  So I did and sent a follow up email:

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