New Jersey Public Broadcaster Laying Off 130

Employees at New Jersey Network received 45-day layoff notices as the public television and radio network prepares to move off the government payroll.

Whether the station (which broadcasts over the air in Camden, Trenton, New Brunswick and Montclair) moves off the air on Jan. 1, when it stops receiving state funding and the layoffs take effect, remains to be seen.

The notices went out to 130 employees; 17 additional employees who are paid through a private foundation are also expected to receive layoff notices, said Janice Selinger, the acting executive director of NJN public television. If the governor's office and Legislature don't act before Jan. 1, the station would go dark. However, both branches have "expressed the sentiment that they want us to thrive and continue," Selinger said, adding that the station just started a new series and continues to fundraise, although that has become more difficult, she said.