Episode 19: Michael Shapiro

There’s no question that New Jersey suffers from a void in local news caused by “news deserts” – areas of the state where there is absolutely no local news coverage from independent, objective sources. However, the state is more fortunate than other areas of the country that are experiencing the same issue, as the TAPinto network of online local news sites now operates sites in more than 100 of the 565 towns in the state with more than one million readers each month. Each site is independently owned and operated and is part of a steadily-growing, sustainable franchise system. Together, these sites have created the largest news gathering operation in New Jersey, with the most local reporters on the ground than any other publication, replacing the coverage that large newspapers once provided. Mike Shapiro, the founder of TAPinto, joins us today for the Jaffe Podcast, talking about the future of Jersey journalism.