JACKSON-The Township of Jackson has engaged in early discussions to create and manage a taxpayer-funded monthly or quarterly newspaper and is in talks with a former political campaign consultant of the campaign of Mayor Michael Reina, Alex Sauickie and Andy Kern to publish the paper.
Jackson Township is already serviced by four different newspapers of varying circulation and publication including the Asbury Park Press, a daily newspaper; The Tri-Town News, a newspaper that covers Jackson, Howell and Plumsted; The Jackson Times, which is a weekly driveway drop newspaper dedicated to Jackson and JTOWN Magazine, a monthly newspaper that is delivered to approximately 20,000 mailboxes each month.
The newspaper to be printed and published by a third party would be mailed to every home in the town would cost the town at least $3,500 in postage each month and could cost up to $7,000 to create content and layout for publication.
Township officials said Reina and Kern have been pushing the idea of creating a taxpayer-funded newspaper to promote good, positive stories from the township government ahead of the upcoming 2021 election. Reina said discussions of the newspaper are in its early stages, but no decision has been made.
The project also has the support of Township Business Administrator Terrance Wall.
