Brief History

CivicStory (formerly NJ Arts News) was founded in 2009 to address gaps in TV news. Founder and Creative Director Susan Haig, a conductor with broad orchestral and opera experience in the US and Canada, aimed to broaden public and media awareness of the transformative work of civic-cultural nonprofits. NJ Arts News received tax-exempt status in March 2015 and was renamed CivicStory in September 2015 to reflect our broader focus on civics, sustainability, and creative change in urban areas. 

CivicStory's video archive encompasses subjects such as creative urban growth, environmental stewardship, civic education, humanities, music, and arts. More than 30 segments have aired on NJTV, WHYY, WBGO (Newark), and WWOR (Secaucus), and on local cable stations. Since 2012, CivicStory has presented public forums exploring the civic role and purpose of news, and the impact of news media on our democracy and environment.