Bloomfield Information Project

The Bloomfield Information Project is a nonprofit, public-service local news initiative based in Bloomfield, New Jersey. It was launched in April 2020 to respond to an acute need for quality local news and information amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and it originally served the Greater Bloomfield area. In the summer of 2023 the project reorganized and rebranded as The Jersey Bee, expanding its focus to Essex County and continuing to produce news, reporting, and civic information for local residents. The organization operates as an initiative of Community Info Coop, a nonprofit that equips communities with the systems, tools, and information they need to design and maintain media institutions that serve their civic information needs. Its founder and Executive Editor is Simon Galperin, a Bloomfield resident who grew up in Bergen County and leads editorial, engagement, product, and business development efforts. The team also includes Civic Info Producers Olivia Rizzo and Natalie Tsur, who produce the daily newsletter and report on community issues, and Engagement Producer Nikki Villafane, who helps run community outreach and journalism programs. The Jersey Bee's output includes a daily newsletter, local news and reporting, event listings, and civic information such as food pantry openings, municipal meetings, health insurance changes, and legal clinics. Its coverage spans municipalities and topics across Essex County, including Belleville, Newark, Irvington, and Glen Ridge, as well as countywide and New Jersey state issues. The organization positions itself as a public service news provider that works with the people it serves to produce reporting that meets local information needs, inspires civic participation, and improves quality of life in the community.

The Bloomfield Information Project was launched in April 2020 as a response to an acute need for quality local news and information amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It served the Greater Bloomfield area in New Jersey, providing local news and civic information to residents during a period when reliable local reporting was especially scarce and urgently needed. In the summer of 2023, the organization reorganized and rebranded as The Jersey Bee, expanding its service area and focus to Essex County, New Jersey. The Jersey Bee operates as an initiative of Community Info Coop, a nonprofit that equips communities with the systems, tools, and information they need to design and maintain media institutions that serve their civic information needs. Under founder and Executive Editor Simon Galperin, the organization has built a team of civic info and engagement producers who produce a daily newsletter, report on local issues, and run community programs. Its coverage includes municipal news and events across Essex County communities such as Belleville, Newark, Irvington, and Glen Ridge, as well as countywide and state-level topics. The organization describes its mission as producing news and reporting that meets local information needs, inspires civic participation, and improves the quality of life in the community.

• 2023

  Reorganized and rebranded as The Jersey Bee, expanding service to Essex County, New Jersey.

• 2020

  Launched as The Bloomfield Information Project to respond to local news needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nonprofit, public-service local news provider that works with the people it serves to meet local information needs and inspire civic participation.

• The Jersey Bee daily newsletter

  A daily newsletter produced by Civic Info Producers covering local news, events, and civic information.

• Local news reporting

  Reporting on issues that matter to the community, including heat waves, elections, and public health.

• Event and civic information listings

  Listings of local meetings, food pantry openings, legal clinics, and other civic resources.

1. 1The Jersey Bee – Essex County Newsjerseybee.org
2. 2The Jersey Bee – About Usjerseybee.org
3. 3Belleville residents can share feedback about parking Sep. 30 – The Jersey Beejerseybee.org
4. 4People can learn about changes to N.J. FamilyCare/Medicaid Sep. 30 – The Jersey Beejerseybee.org
5. 5Bloomfield Information Project – Wikidatawikidata.org