New Jersey Urban News Welcomes Sydney Salomon as Our New Community Impact Reporter

NEWARK, N.J. — New Jersey Urban News is proud to announce that Sydney Salomon has joined our newsroom as our new Community Impact Reporter through the prestigious Report for America national service program. Sydney will report on the issues that shape everyday life for Black and Brown communities throughout Newark, Paterson, and across New Jersey—including health equity, housing, education, civic participation, public policy, and the systemic challenges and solutions affecting our neighborhoods. 

This marks another significant milestone in New Jersey Urban News’ continued growth and our commitment to producing journalism that informs, empowers, and creates meaningful change in the communities we serve.

“At New Jersey Urban News, we believe local journalism should do more than report the news—it should help strengthen communities,” said Penda C. Howell, Co-Founder, CEO, and Publisher of New Jersey Urban News. “Sydney brings a deep commitment to community-centered reporting, accountability journalism, and listening to residents whose voices have too often been overlooked. Her work will help us tell more impactful stories while ensuring our readers have the information, they need to make informed decisions about their lives and their communities.”

As Community Impact Reporter, Sydney will produce enterprise, accountability, service, and solutions journalism that examines both the challenges facing New Jersey’s urban communities and the people and organizations working to address them. Her reporting will focus on identifying root causes, tracking whether proposed solutions deliver meaningful results, and elevating the experiences of residents most affected by public policy decisions.

Sydney joins New Jersey Urban News through Report for America, the national service program that places talented journalists in local newsrooms to strengthen coverage of underreported issues and underserved communities across the country.

“We are honored to once again partner with Report for America as we continue building one of New Jersey’s leading community-centered news organizations,” Howell added. “This investment strengthens our ability to provide trusted, culturally responsive journalism while expanding coverage of the issues that matter most to the people we serve.”

Readers can expect Sydney’s reporting to include in-depth features, investigative and accountability stories, explanatory journalism, and community-driven reporting informed by listening sessions, neighborhood events, and direct engagement with residents.

New Jersey Urban News encourages community members, neighborhood organizations, advocates, educators, and local leaders to connect with Sydney by sharing story ideas, community concerns, and solutions that deserve greater public attention. Sydney can be reached directly at Sydney@njurbannews.com

Together, we will continue building a more informed, engaged, and empowered New Jersey.

About New Jersey Urban News

New Jersey Urban News is a Black-owned, digital-first news organization dedicated to informing and empowering Black, Latino, immigrant, and historically underserved communities throughout New Jersey. Through original reporting, newsletters, podcasts, community engagement, and solutions-focused journalism, NJ Urban News delivers trusted news and information that strengthens civic participation, promotes accountability, and amplifies voices often overlooked by traditional media.