Smith will join fellow board members to oversee the thriving nonprofit’s work of building strong communities through local journalism and civic engagement

New Jersey, May 22, 2023 – The Corporation for New Jersey Local Media (CNJLM) today announced the addition of media luminary and entrepreneur Patti Smith Barrett to its board of directors. Barrett’s addition to the six-person board adds to the group’s already deep experience with local media and business enterprises.

After earning her master’s from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Barrett spent 15 years building a career in broadcast journalism, both behind and in front of the camera. During this time, she played an integral role in the launch of news networks such as MSNBC and FOXNews before jumping on-camera as a reporter and anchor.

Barrett has since turned her talents to entrepreneurship, co-founding The Pickup Line, a national, daily newsletter for busy moms, and Morphmom Daily, a daily newsletter for women “morphing” into the next stage of motherhood. She runs both enterprises from her home in Chatham, NJ, where she lives with her husband and four kids.

“As a journalist, a businesswoman, and a parent who knows how important strong communities are, I couldn’t be more excited to be stepping onto this board,” said Barrett. “CNJLM does vital work to ensure that local journalism is able to do its primary job: keeping us informed and keeping our civic life strong.”

According to Board Chair Lisa Bhimani, MD, “Patti’s impressive skills and unwavering passion make her an exceptional addition to our board. We at CNJLM are thrilled to welcome her to our leadership team, and we are confident that her guidance will propel this energetic organization to new heights.”

“Patti adds extensive journalism experience and vision to our board,” said Amanda Richardson, executive director of CNJLM. “She truly understands the importance of journalism to local communities, and I look forward to working with her.”

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Corporation for New Jersey Local Media builds strong communities through journalism and civic engagement. The organization seeks to enhance civic engagement by promoting professional community journalism, fostering public discussion of critical issues, and expanding access to educational programs. Learn more at www.newsweneed.org.