In a sweeping move with major implications for New Jersey’s media landscape, Governor Phil Murphy and the state legislature have officially eliminated a long-standing requirement that forced local, county, and state governments to place public notices in printed newspapers. The legislation, signed into law on June 30, 2025, marks the end of a decades-old system and could hasten the decline — and possible closure — of several local newspapers across the state.
The now-defunct mandate was part of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, which required government entities to publish a wide range of notices in newspapers, including meeting schedules, planning board decisions, budget hearings, foreclosure listings, and public bids. These government-paid advertisements were a reliable revenue stream for newspapers — one that many relied on to remain financially viable.
For critics, the change is long overdue. Supporters of the new law argue that the requirement was an unnecessary drain on taxpayer funds in an era where digital platforms can communicate the same information more efficiently and at little to no cost. “This practice has been a waste of money for years,” said one state official. “It’s time to move forward with how we inform the public.”
Indeed, the shift reflects broader trends in both government and media. As more people turn to digital sources for news and public information, the value of printed notices has steadily declined. The state’s action signals a formal recognition that the digital age has rendered the old model obsolete.
Still, the consequences for New Jersey’s newspaper industry are expected to be severe. Without this mandated stream of income, several small and mid-sized newspapers could soon face closure. For an industry already weathering what many have called “a death by a thousand cuts,” this change may prove to be the final blow for some publications.
Veteran New Jersey broadcaster Harry Hurley, who has long predicted the downfall of traditional print newspapers, called the move inevitable. “With the technology we have today, a physical printed newspaper is both arcane and unnecessary,” Hurley said. “I said over 30 years ago this would happen in our lifetime — and here it is.”
Critics of the new law argue that removing the print requirement could limit access to public notices for residents who don’t use the internet, particularly older populations. But state officials maintain that new digital systems will be put in place to ensure transparency and access to information.
Whether the transition will be smooth remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the elimination of the public notice requirement is a turning point — not just for government communication, but for the future of journalism in New Jersey. For many newspapers, the clock is now ticking.
